sterilization

== English == === Alternative forms === sterilisation (non-Oxford British English) === Etymology === From sterile +‎ -ization or sterilize +‎ -ation. === Pronunciation === === Noun === sterilization (countable and uncountable, plural sterilizations) (American spelling, Oxford British English) (uncountable) The process of treating something to kill or inactivate microorganisms. (uncountable) A procedure to permanently prevent an organism from reproducing. (countable) An instance of a sterilization procedure. (uncountable) A monetary policy operation used to offset a foreign exchange intervention. (uncountable) The process of permanently rendering a planet like Earth completely uninhabitable to all life, including even microbes, leading to their complete extinction. ==== Derived terms ==== ==== Related terms ==== sterilize ==== Translations ==== === See also === autoclave sanitization