What does sterilisation mean?
Sterilisation is the process of making something free from microorganisms or their spores, often by heat, chemicals, radiation, filtration, or another controlled method. The term is especially important in medicine, food preparation, laboratory work, and industry, where contamination can cause infection, spoilage, or damaged experiments. It can also mean the process of making a person or organism permanently unable to reproduce, although this use is most common in medical and demographic contexts. Sterilisation is stronger and more precise than disinfection: disinfection reduces or destroys many harmful microorganisms, while sterilisation is intended to eliminate all viable forms, including resistant spores. In British English the usual spelling ends in -sisation, while US English generally uses -ization. The word combines a long history of reproductive imagery with a later scientific meaning: English sterile originally conveyed barrenness or the absence of life, before the word was extended to objects and substances capable of being made free from contaminating organisms.
nounThe process of making something sterile, especially by eliminating microorganisms or their spores. It can also refer to the act or process of making a person or organism incapable of reproduction.
- The process of eliminating microorganisms or their spores from an object, substance, or environment.
- The act or process of making a person or organism incapable of reproducing.
"The equipment is cleaned thoroughly before sterilisation to prevent contamination."
"Heat sterilisation is widely used for surgical instruments and laboratory glassware."
"The hospital offers voluntary sterilisation as a permanent form of contraception."
Usually used for individual acts, methods, or instances of sterilisation, especially medical procedures.
"The clinic provides sterilisations for people who have decided not to have children."
A word born from barrenness in agriculture became a promise of sterility in medicine: from preventing life to eliminating microbes.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does sterilisation come from?
The word belongs to a family derived from Latin sterilis, meaning “barren” or “unprolific,” through Old French and English sterile. English acquired sterile in senses connected with both reproduction and freedom from contamination. Sterilisation was formed in the early 19th century from the verb sterilise with the noun-forming suffix -ation, originally referring chiefly to the prevention of reproduction before becoming established for the removal of microorganisms.
How sterilisation is actually used
In medicine and microbiology, sterilisation normally implies the elimination of all viable microorganisms, including spores, making it more absolute than ordinary disinfection. The spelling with s is standard in British English; sterilization is the usual US spelling.
Easily confused with sterilisation
Disinfection removes harmful microorganisms, whereas sterilisation eliminates all viable microorganisms, including resistant spores.