Standard Lemma guide

sterilizer

noun · 2 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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  • CMU ARPABET: S T EH1 R AH0 L AY2 Z ER0 Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.

1

noun

Meaning 1

A device used to sterilize, killing pathogens by means such as heat, UV light, chemicals, etc.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Examples

  • The hospital was in trouble when the sterilizer broke; they almost had to shut down the operating room.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

noun

Meaning 2

a device for heating substances above their boiling point; used to manufacture chemicals or to sterilize surgical instruments

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: autoclave, steriliser

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: vessel

Narrower terms: digester, pressure cooker

History

Etymology

Etymology tree English sterile Proto-Indo-European *-id- Proto-Indo-European *-yéti Proto-Indo-European *-idyéti Proto-Hellenic *-íďďō Ancient Greek -ῐ́ζω (-ĭ́zō)bor. Late Latin -izōder. Middle French -iserbor. Middle English -isen English -ize English sterilize English -er English sterilizer From sterilize + -er.

Across languages

Translations

11 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Finnish: sterilaattori — a device used to sterilize
  • Finnish: sterilisaattori — a device used to sterilize
  • French: stérilisateur — a device used to sterilize
  • Greek: αποστειρωτήρας (aposteirotíras) — a device used to sterilize
  • Hungarian: sterilizátor — a device used to sterilize
  • Italian: sterilizzante — a device used to sterilize
  • Italian: sterilizzatore — a device used to sterilize
  • Macedonian: стерилизатор (sterilizator) — a device used to sterilize
  • Romanian: sterilizator — a device used to sterilize
  • Spanish: esterilizador — a device used to sterilize
  • Tok Pisin: strerelaisa — a device used to sterilize