it was sanitized

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "it was sanitized" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to indicate that something has been cleaned or made free from contaminants or harmful substances. Example: "After the health inspection, the kitchen was thoroughly cleaned, and it was sanitized to ensure safety for food preparation."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

It started as something more precise, but it was sanitized by our human resources people along the way.

The New York Times

"I think it was sanitized by the way it was described" in press accounts, said John Sifton, a former lawyer for Human Rights Watch, an advocacy group.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

"Is war an intrinsically 'male' endeavor or can it be sanitized by technology?" Feminists are split over whether the goal of women's liberation is to end male dominance by giving women access to power, or whether liberation means freeing both women and men to become more fully human.

The New York Times - Books

That way, we need to know what you have to say, even if it's sanitized.

Huffington Post

As I said on Twitter yesterday, "Elsewhere, it's sanitized objectification.

Huffington Post

These concerns remain even if it is sanitized or anonymized [ 2, 3] because of the variety of different types and sources of data tied together within the EMR.

BMC Medical Informatics and Decision Making

"I have serious questions about whether this was an actual complaint from a member of the public, as opposed to just something the governor's office cooked up," said Beal. "With a fax, we could see where it came from, but it appears that the fax was sanitized to prevent this".

Huffington Post

Ms. King's classroom was sanitized as a precaution after she died Sunday.

The New York Times

A study detailing the impact of mercury emissions from power plants was sanitized to industry specifications.

The New York Times

The bioterium was sanitized with sodium 10% hypochlorite.

BioMed Research International

"You have no insurance that it's being sanitized properly".

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing a process, use "it was sanitized" to clearly indicate that a cleaning or purifying step has been completed to ensure safety or compliance.

Common error

Avoid using "it was sanitized" as a catch-all phrase. Instead, use more precise terms like "disinfected", "sterilized", or "decontaminated" when referring to specific types of cleaning processes.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "it was sanitized" functions as a passive construction, indicating that something underwent a process of sanitization. Ludwig AI shows this phrase is used to describe actions taken to clean or purify objects, spaces, or even information.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

42%

Science

33%

Wiki

25%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "it was sanitized" is a grammatically sound passive construction used to describe the action of cleaning and reducing the number of germs or unwanted elements. Ludwig AI indicates its frequent use across News & Media, Science, and Wiki sources. While grammatically correct, it is important to choose the right term and specify the cleaning level required or obtained, because other alternatives as "it was disinfected" might be more adequate. Remember to use it to clearly communicate that something has undergone a sanitization process to ensure safety, compliance, or acceptability.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

it was disinfected

Focuses specifically on eliminating harmful microorganisms.

it was cleaned

A more general term for removing dirt or impurities.

it was purified

Suggests the removal of unwanted elements to achieve a pure state.

it was decontaminated

Emphasizes the removal of hazardous substances.

it was made safe

Highlights the action of removing any potential hazard

it was altered for content

Implies changes made to the substance or material to adhere to certain standards.

it was made more palatable

Highlights the changing of content to make it more acceptable

it was scrubbed

Focuses on a more thorough type of cleaning

it was clarified

Emphasizes the removal of things that make it unclear.

it was processed

Suggests undergoing a procedure to remove impurities.

FAQs

What does "it was sanitized" mean?

The phrase "it was sanitized" means that something has been cleaned and treated to reduce the number of germs and bacteria to a safe level. It doesn't necessarily mean it's completely sterile, but it's been made hygienic.

When should I use "it was sanitized" versus "it was disinfected"?

"It was disinfected" implies the use of chemicals to kill most harmful microorganisms, whereas "it was sanitized" suggests a more general cleaning to reduce the number of germs to a safe level. Disinfecting is stronger than sanitizing.

What are some alternatives to "it was sanitized"?

Depending on the context, you could use phrases like "it was cleaned", "it was decontaminated", or "it was purified" instead of "it was sanitized".

Is it correct to say "it was sanitized" in formal writing?

Yes, "it was sanitized" is grammatically correct and can be used in formal writing, especially when describing processes in fields like healthcare, food service, or manufacturing. However, ensure that the term accurately reflects the cleaning method used.