Synonyms/Hypernyms (Ordered by Estimated Frequency) of noun sterilization

2 senses of sterilization

Sense 1
sterilization, sterilisation -- (the act of making an organism barren or infertile (unable to reproduce))
       => operation, surgery, surgical operation, surgical procedure, surgical process -- (a medical procedure involving an incision with instruments; performed to repair damage or arrest disease in a living body; "they will schedule the operation as soon as an operating room is available"; "he died while undergoing surgery")

Sense 2
sterilization, sterilisation -- (the procedure of making some object free of live bacteria or other microorganisms (usually by heat or chemical means))
       => cleaning, cleansing, cleanup -- (the act of making something clean; "he gave his shoes a good cleaning")