Sanitizables

Part of speech: adjective

Definitions

1. Capable of being cleaned or disinfected to remove germs and contaminants
2. Susceptible to treatment or processes that make something hygienic and safe by eliminating harmful microorganisms
3. Able to undergo sanitization procedures to ensure cleanliness and reduce the presence of pathogens

Etymology: "Sanitas" was the Latin word for health, or soundness of body and mind, and it shares a root with "sanus," the source of "sane." English borrowed "sanitary" through French "sanitaire," which carried that same sense of promoting health. Over time, "sanitary" narrowed toward cleanliness and the removal of filth, since keeping things clean was understood to protect health. The verb "sanitize" was formed from "sanitary" with the suffix "-ize," which English uses to turn adjectives and nouns into verbs. The adjective-making suffix "-able," from Latin "-abilis" through French, then gives the sense of something capable of being sanitized.