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
Stein recommends at least 30 seconds for the hydrogen peroxide to sanitize the sink's surface.
—Rebecca Jones, Southern Living, 23 Nov. 2024
The glass file and buffing tool are sturdier, prettier, and easier to sanitize than typical options (like a flimsy emery board or fabric-padded buffer).
—Jessica Kasparian, SELF, 23 Nov. 2024
While recreating the murders, McDonald and Kendrick are intentional about not showing a gratuitous amount of violence, but also not sanitizing Alcala’s horrific crimes.
—William Earl, Variety, 21 Oct. 2024
The majority of people, however, were firmly team dishwasher, with many pointing out that the appliance heats the water to a high temperature that fully cleans and sanitizes the dishes.
—Erin Clack, People.com, 19 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for sanitize 
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Rebecca Jones, Southern Living, 23 Nov. 2024
The glass file and buffing tool are sturdier, prettier, and easier to sanitize than typical options (like a flimsy emery board or fabric-padded buffer).
—Jessica Kasparian, SELF, 23 Nov. 2024
While recreating the murders, McDonald and Kendrick are intentional about not showing a gratuitous amount of violence, but also not sanitizing Alcala’s horrific crimes.
—William Earl, Variety, 21 Oct. 2024
The majority of people, however, were firmly team dishwasher, with many pointing out that the appliance heats the water to a high temperature that fully cleans and sanitizes the dishes.
—Erin Clack, People.com, 19 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for sanitize
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Dictionary Entries Near sanitize
Cite this Entry
“Sanitize.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sanitize. Accessed 30 Nov. 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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