Definition

Not clean or free from germs and bacteria; likely to cause infection.

Example

The unsterile conditions in the clinic raised concerns about patient safety.

Conversation

Did you hear about the clinic that used unsterile equipment?

Yeah, that's really concerning!

I can't believe they would risk patients' health like that.

I know, it just shows how important it is to check for unsterile conditions.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Root Explanation

Unsterile → It is formed from "un-" (meaning not) and "sterilis" (from Latin, meaning barren or unproductive). The word "unsterile" means not barren or unproductive, specifically referring to an environment that is not free from germs or contaminants.

Memory Tip

Think of 'not' ('un-') being added to 'barren' or 'unproductive' ('sterilis') — this helps you remember that 'unsterile' means not free from germs.

Visually Confused Words