sanitize
verb
Simple meaning
Make less offensive or more acceptable by removing objectionable features.
Pronunciation
Say it like this:
sanihtyzSay the bold part a little louder.
IPA pronunciation (US)
ˈsænɪtaɪz
This word is pronounced essentially the same in American and British English, so one transcription covers both.
IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) is a standard way of writing speech sounds.
Definition
Everyday modern meanings first, grouped by part of speech.
verb
Make less offensive or more acceptable by removing objectionable features
“Sanitize a document before releasing it to the press.”
transitiveby extension
To make something, such as a dramatic work, more acceptable by removing potentially offensive material.
transitive
To rid of microorganisms by cleaning or disinfecting.
transitivecomputing
To filter (text) to ensure it does not contain any characters that will cause problems for or be interpreted in an adverse way by the receiving system.
transitive
To revise (a document) in order to prevent identification of the sources.
Word at a Glance
- Difficulty
- C2 · Proficient (estimated)
- Frequency
- Rare
Word Aura™
How this word commonly comes across.
Aura for this meaning
This meaning: Make less offensive or more acceptable by removing objectionable features
Used this way, sanitize is a common word with a faintly unfavourable edge. It usually sounds natural in a wide range of settings.
“Sanitize a document before releasing it to the press.”
- Emotional tone
- Slightly negative
- Formality
- Neutral
- Intensity
- Moderate
- How common
- Common
- Connotation
- Critical or judgemental
- Usage feel
- Neutral and straightforward
Word Aura describes common impressions, not a measurement. Tone changes with sentence, speaker, relationship and situation.
More ways to use sanitize
- “Sanitize a document before releasing it to the press.”verb
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Dictionary data from Wiktionary via the Free Dictionary API. Simple meanings, combinations and word intelligence are built from verified reference data, no AI is used to load this page.