sanitary

[ san-i-ter-ee ]

adjective

1. of or relating to health or the conditions affecting health, especially with reference to cleanliness, precautions against disease, etc.

   Synonyms: unpolluted, antiseptic, germfree, clean

   Antonyms: septic, polluted, unhealthy, unwholesome, unclean

2. favorable to health; free from dirt, bacteria, etc.:

   a sanitary washroom.

   Synonyms: unpolluted, salutary, healthy, antiseptic, germfree, clean

   Antonyms: septic, polluted, unhealthy, unwholesome, unclean

3. providing healthy cleanliness:

   a sanitary wrapper on all sandwiches.

sanitary

/ -trɪ; ˈsænɪtərɪ /

adjective

1. of or relating to health and measures for the protection of health
2. conducive to or promoting health; free from dirt, germs, etc; hygienic

Derived Forms

• ˈsanitarily, adverb
• ˈsanitariness, noun

Other Words From

• sani·tari·ly adverb
• sani·tari·ness noun
• pre·sani·tary adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of sanitary¹

First recorded in 1835–45; from Latin sānit(ās) “health” ( sanity ) + -ary

Word History and Origins

Origin of sanitary¹

C19: from French sanitaire, from Latin sānitās health

Synonym Study

Sanitary, hygienic agree in being concerned with health. Sanitary refers more especially to conditions affecting health or measures for guarding against infection or disease: to insure sanitary conditions in preparing food. Hygienic is applied to whatever concerns the care of the body and the promotion of health: to live in hygienic surroundings with plenty of fresh air.

Example Sentences

Contained within the spills is human waste, wet wipes and sanitary products, which can pose a serious risk to the local wildlife, swimmers and others who use UK waterways.

From BBC

Gucciardo visited Gaza in March, bringing in diapers, sanitary supplies for women, other medical supplies and food when she crossed over from Egypt.

From Salon

In an email response to questions, Mahmud Ulkarim, president of Megna Real Estate Investments, said the building was old but that he kept it “clean and sanitary.”

From Los Angeles Times

That threat to women’s health qualifies the ad as a “sanitary nuisance,” the letter states, adding that those responsible could be subject to “criminal proceedings.”

From Los Angeles Times

The letter says the ad is “dangerous” and may confuse pregnant women seeking life-saving care, making it a “sanitary nuisance” in violation of state law.

From Salon