adjective
sterile
STEH-ryl
adjective
1
Free from all living germs and microorganisms.
"The surgeon worked in a completely sterile operating room."
"Make sure the needle is sterile before use."
2
Unable to produce offspring; infertile.
"Some hybrid plants are sterile and cannot produce viable seeds."
3
Lacking creativity, warmth, or productive results; barren.
"The meeting turned into a sterile debate that went nowhere."
How to Use Sterile
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishEither germ-free, unable to reproduce, or (figuratively) dull and unproductive.
Common pairings
sterile environment
sterile equipment
sterile debate
Word Forms
more sterile comparative, most sterile superlative
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Etymology
From Latin sterilis, meaning "barren" or "unproductive."