sterileness


Also found in: Thesaurus, Medical, Encyclopedia.

ster·ile

 (stĕr′əl, -īl′)
adj.
1.
a. Not producing or incapable of producing offspring.
b. Not producing or incapable of producing seed, fruit, spores, or other reproductive structures. Used of plants or their parts.
2. Producing little or no vegetation; unfruitful: sterile land.
3. Free from live bacteria or other microorganisms: a sterile operating area; sterile instruments.
4. Lacking imagination, creativity, or vitality.
5. Lacking the power to function; not productive or effective; fruitless: a sterile discussion.

[Middle English, from Old French, from Latin sterilis.]

ster′ile·ly adv.
ster′ile·ness, ste·ril′i·ty (stə-rĭl′ĭ-tē) n.
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:
Noun1.sterileness - (of non-living objects) the state of being free of pathogenic organismssterileness - (of non-living objects) the state of being free of pathogenic organisms
sanitariness - the state of being conducive to health
Based on WordNet 3.0, Farlex clipart collection. © 2003-2012 Princeton University, Farlex Inc.

sterileness

noun
The American Heritage® Roget's Thesaurus. Copyright © 2013, 2014 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.