# sanitizer

CEFR B1 · Noun

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/sanitizer
Updated: 2026-05-31

## Definition

a liquid or spray that kills germs on your hands or on surfaces. You use it when you cannot wash your hands with soap and water.

For teachers: a substance, typically a liquid or gel, used to kill or inactivate microorganisms on the skin or on surfaces. Often used in medical or public hygiene contexts to reduce the risk of infection.

## Examples

- The hospital provides hand sanitizer at every entrance.
- After touching the public elevator buttons, she used a small bottle of alcohol-based sanitizer to clean her hands.
- While soap and water remain the gold standard for hygiene, the widespread availability of portable sanitizer has significantly reduced the transmission of common viruses in high-traffic urban environments.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.