sterile
UK: ˈstɛraɪl | US: ˈstɛrəl
adj. free from living microorganisms; completely clean
adj. incapable of producing offspring; infertile
adj. lacking creativity, vitality, or originality
The word sterile traces back to Latin sterilis, which originally described land or plants that failed to bear fruit. Over time, it expanded to medical contexts (e.g., surgical tools free of germs) and metaphorical uses (e.g., uncreative ideas). The suffix -ile reinforces its adjectival function, linking it to qualities like "barrenness" or "purity."
The surgeon ensured all instruments were sterile before the operation.
The couple discovered they were sterile after years of unsuccessful attempts to conceive.
Critics dismissed the artist's latest work as sterile and uninspired.
Laboratories maintain sterile conditions to prevent contamination.
The desert's sterile landscape stretched endlessly under the sun.