Meaning & use
sanitize
Last updated
Meanings
verbtransitive
To clean something thoroughly to remove germs and bacteria.
Grammar: Takes an object: sanitize the kitchen counter.
Patterns
- sanitize something
- sanitize something with something
You should sanitize your hands before eating.
The hospital staff sanitize the equipment after each use.
We need to sanitize the bathroom to prevent the spread of germs.
verbtransitivefigurative
To remove sensitive, offensive, or controversial parts from something.
Grammar: Often used with documents, reports, or stories: sanitize the report.
Patterns
- sanitize something
- sanitize something of something
The editor sanitized the article to avoid offending readers.
The government sanitized the report before releasing it to the public.
He sanitized his social media posts before the job interview.
Word forms
| third person singular | sanitizes |
|---|---|
| past tense | sanitized |
| past participle | sanitized |
| -ing form | sanitizing |
Common combinations
- sanitize hands
- Please sanitize your hands before entering the ward.
- sanitize a surface
- Use a disinfectant wipe to sanitize the surface.
- sanitize a document
- They sanitized the document to remove classified information.
- thoroughly sanitize
- The crew thoroughly sanitized the entire cabin.
Synonyms and how they differ
- disinfect
- Disinfect often implies killing germs with chemicals, while sanitize means reducing germs to a safe level.
- sterilize
- Sterilize means to remove all microorganisms, a stronger process than sanitizing.
- clean
- Clean means to remove dirt, but not necessarily germs; sanitize specifically targets germs.
Opposites
Word family
Commonly confused: sanitize or sterilize?
sanitize vs sterilize
Sterilize is stronger: it kills all germs, while sanitize reduces them to a safe level.
Practice
Choose the correct sentence:
Choose one answer.
Sanitize is a transitive verb that takes a direct object. 'Sanitize the counter' is correct; the other options use prepositions that do not fit this verb pattern.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “sanitize”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.