sterilant

[ ster-uh-luhnt ]

noun

, Chemistry.

1. a sterilizing agent.

sterilant

/ ˈstɛrɪlənt /

noun

1. any substance or agent used in sterilization

Word History and Origins

Origin of sterilant¹

First recorded in 1940–45; sterile + -ant

Example Sentences

As a throat sterilant we had 10-year-old Ardbeg scotch.

From Washington Post

“It’s hot as hell in there, and alkali is a powerful sterilant at temperature,” Wilson says.

From Scientific American

Dr. Schattner formed a company to produce and sell the product, and by 1990 he controlled as much as 25 percent of what was called the “cold sterilant” market.

From Washington Post

A chemical sterilant, on the other hand, could be combined with a bait substance and introduced into the natural environment of the fly; insects feeding on it would become sterile and in the course of time the sterile flies would predominate and the insects would breed themselves out of existence.

From Literature

In addition to culturing and gas sterilization, the FDA recommended a liquid chemical sterilant or repeating the current protocol of high-level disinfection.

From Los Angeles Times