sterile

Universal Words adjective 1 (of humans or animals) not able to produce children or young animals SYNINFERTILE compareFERTILE 2 completely clean and free from bacteria: sterile bandages / equipment * sterile water 3 (of a discussion, an argument, etc.) not producing any useful result: a sterile debate 4 lacking individual personality, imagination or new ideas: The room felt cold and sterile. * He felt creatively and emotionally sterile. 5 (of land) not good enough to produce crops sterility noun [U]: The disease can cause sterility in men and women. * the meaningless sterility of statistics * She contemplated the sterility of her life.