adj.
- not able to produce children or young.
▸(of a plant) not able to produce fruit or seeds.
▸(of land or soil) too poor in quality to produce crops.
- lacking in imagination, creativity, or excitement.
- free from bacteria or other living microorganisms.
Derivative
- sterilely adv.
- sterility n.
Etymology
ME: from OFr., or from L. sterilis; rel. to Gk steira ‘barren cow’.