sanitize
verb
san·i·tize
ˈsa-nə-ˌtīz 
sanitized; sanitizing
1
: to reduce or eliminate pathogenic agents (such as bacteria) on the surfaces of (something) : to make (something) sanitary (as by cleaning or disinfecting)
You can use sponges and dishcloths safely if you take care to sanitize them, says Dean Cliver, a professor of food safety at the University of California, Davis.—
Nick Gallo
Nick GalloCity Sanitarian Lauri Sorel said no soot was found and restaurants only had to sanitize food service surfaces with a mixture of bleach and water.—The Springfield (Massachusetts) Union-News
The Springfield (Massachusetts) Union-NewsHe had every store and delivery truck sanitized, and he set up a department to make unannounced health inspections of stores, vowing to temporarily shut down any slackers for cleanup.—Suzanne Hoppough
Suzanne Hoppough2
: to make (something, such as text) more acceptable by removing, hiding, or minimizing any unpleasant, undesirable, or unfavorable parts
The memories—and memoirs—of former intelligence hands tend to be selective as well as sanitized, either by the author or by some form of official censorship or both, and the historian must be wary.—Ian Black and Benny Morris
Ian Black and Benny MorrisThey were also forced to "sanitize" reports that might show early church leaders or the official doctrine in a dim light.—Robert Lindsey
Robert LindseyOnce "friended" by a colleague, people feel compelled to employ privacy features—which itself can be a snub—or to sanitize their online profiles—which is akin to hiding something under the bed.—Jared Sandberg
Jared SandbergPublished in Munich in 1987, the diaries are a major tool of that school of historians whose purpose is to relativize, normalize, sanitize the crimes of the Third Reich.—Peter Padfield
Peter PadfieldAnd the movie sanitizes his behavior as well. (It manages to suggest that he's a philanderer without ever once showing him with another woman.)—Entertainment Weekly
Entertainment Weekly… civilian casualties are referred to as "collateral damage"—a stunningly abstract and sanitized way to refer to mangled human bodies.—Carol E. Cohn
Carol E. CohnExamples of sanitize in a Sentence
The housekeeping staff sanitized the bathroom.
They're trying to sanitize the news.
Recent Examples on the Web
First, sanitize the cutting shears or scissors between plants.
—Heather Bien, Southern Living, 7 Aug. 2024
Anyone with the contaminated meats should thoroughly clean and sanitize their refridgerators to prevent contamination of other foods
South Florida Sun Sentinel health reporter Cindy Goodman can be reached at cgoodman@sunsentinel.com.
—Cindy Krischer Goodman, Sun Sentinel, 31 July 2024
In his memoir, Calley portrayed himself as an easy target for officials trying to sanitize the unpopular war.
—Steve Chawkins, Los Angeles Times, 30 July 2024
Then rinse with a sanitizing solution of 1 tablespoon unscented, liquid chlorine bleach per gallon of drinking water.
—Susan Selasky, Detroit Free Press, 20 June 2024
See all Example Sentences for sanitize 
Heather Bien, Southern Living, 7 Aug. 2024
Anyone with the contaminated meats should thoroughly clean and sanitize their refridgerators to prevent contamination of other foods
South Florida Sun Sentinel health reporter Cindy Goodman can be reached at cgoodman@sunsentinel.com.
—Cindy Krischer Goodman, Sun Sentinel, 31 July 2024
In his memoir, Calley portrayed himself as an easy target for officials trying to sanitize the unpopular war.
—Steve Chawkins, Los Angeles Times, 30 July 2024
Then rinse with a sanitizing solution of 1 tablespoon unscented, liquid chlorine bleach per gallon of drinking water.
—Susan Selasky, Detroit Free Press, 20 June 2024
See all Example Sentences for sanitize
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'sanitize.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
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Cite this Entry
“Sanitize.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sanitize. Accessed 19 Aug. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
sanitize
verb
san·i·tize
ˈsan-ə-ˌtīz
sanitized; sanitizing
: to make sanitary (as by cleaning or sterilizing)
Medical Definition
sanitize
transitive verb
san·i·tize
variants
also British sanitise
sanitized also British sanitised; sanitizing also British sanitising
: to make sanitary (as by cleaning or sterilizing)
sanitize all surfaces with a solution of bleach and water
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