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sanitizer

/ˈsænɪtaɪzər/
noun★Intermediate
🏥Medicine
formal

A liquid, gel, or foam used to disinfect hands or surfaces, typically containing alcohol or other antimicrobial agents.

The CDC recommends using an alcohol-based hand sanitizer when soap and water are unavailable.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention advises using a hand sanitizer containing alcohol as an alternative to washing hands with soap and water.

💡

Sanitizers are commonly used in healthcare settings, food service, and public spaces to reduce the spread of germs.

💻Technology
technical

A device or system designed to clean or sterilize objects, often using UV light, heat, or chemicals.

The UV sanitizer quickly kills bacteria on electronic devices.

The ultraviolet light sanitizer effectively eliminates bacteria from smartphones and other electronic devices.

💡

Technical sanitizers are used in laboratories, hospitals, and industrial settings.

Collocations

hand sanitizera portable liquid or gel used to clean handssurface sanitizera product used to disinfect objects or surfacesUV sanitizera device that uses ultraviolet light to sterilize items

Synonyms

Antonyms

Related Phrases

sanitizeverb
to clean or disinfect something
sanitizationnoun
the process of making something clean or germ-free

💡Pro Tip

Effectiveness

Alcohol-based sanitizers should contain at least 60% alcohol to be effective against most germs.

Usage

Apply sanitizer to dry hands and rub them together until dry for maximum effectiveness.

⚡Gold Rule

Proper Use

Sanitizers should not replace handwashing with soap and water when hands are visibly dirty.

📖Word Origin

From 'sanitize' (to make clean or germ-free) + '-er' (agent suffix), first recorded in the early 20th century.

📝Usage Notes

The term 'sanitizer' became widely used in the 21st century, especially after the COVID-19 pandemic increased awareness of hygiene practices.

Word Breakdown

sanit
related to cleanliness or hygiene
root
+
-ize
to make or become
suffix
+
-er
agent or thing that performs the action
suffix
English Dictionary

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