Definitions and Examples of sterile, infertile
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
Not able to produce offspring or unable to grow plants; free from living microorganisms.
Example
The soil was so sterile that nothing grew in it.
Not capable of producing offspring or fruit; unable to support plant growth.
Example
The land was infertile due to lack of nutrients.
Key Differences: sterile vs infertile
- 1Sterile refers to the absence of living microorganisms, while infertile refers to the inability to produce offspring or fruit.
- 2Sterile can also refer to a medical condition where someone is unable to have children, while infertile is used more commonly for land or soil.
Effective Usage of sterile, infertile
- 1Gardening: Use sterile and infertile to describe soil that is not suitable for growing plants.
- 2Medical: Use sterile to describe medical equipment that is free from living microorganisms.
- 3Reproduction: Use infertile to describe a person or animal that is unable to produce offspring.
Remember this!
The antonyms of germinable are sterile and infertile. Use sterile to describe something that is free from living microorganisms, and infertile to describe something that is unable to produce offspring or fruit. These words are useful in gardening, medical, and reproduction contexts.