Pronunciation: [sˈanɪtˌa͡ɪzɪz] (IPA) 
The word "sanitizes" is spelled - /ˈsænɪtaɪzɪz/ - with a "z" at the end, even though the root word "sanitize" ends in "s". This is because of a pronunciation rule called "voicing". When a word ends in an unvoiced consonant (e.g. "t", "p", "k"), the ending "s" becomes "z" in the plural form to make it easier to say. So, "sanitize" (with a "z") becomes "sanitizes" (with a "z") to help us pronounce it correctly.
The term "sanitizes" refers to the process of cleaning, disinfecting, or purifying an object, surface, or environment to reduce or eliminate harmful bacteria, viruses, germs, or other microorganisms that may pose a threat to human health. This action is commonly undertaken to maintain a high level of cleanliness and prevent the transmission of diseases.
When something is sanitized, it undergoes a thorough cleansing procedure that involves using chemical agents, heat, or other sanitizing methods to effectively kill or eliminate pathogens and other contaminants from the object or area in question. Typically, sanitizing involves the use of products such as sanitizing wipes, disinfectant sprays, or cleaning solutions that are specifically designed to neutralize microorganisms.
Sanitizing is practiced in various settings, including food preparation and processing facilities, healthcare environments, public spaces, and even in everyday household cleaning routines. In food-related settings, sanitizing is crucial to prevent foodborne illnesses and to ensure that food handling and storage areas meet hygiene standards.
In recent times, the importance of sanitizing has been emphasized due to the global COVID-19 pandemic. Regularly sanitizing frequently-touched surfaces, such as doorknobs, handles, and electronics, has become a widely adopted practice to help curb the spread of the virus.
Overall, sanitizing plays a vital role in maintaining cleanliness, minimizing the risk of illnesses, and promoting a healthier and safer environment.
* The statistics data for these misspellings percentages are collected from over 15,411,110 spell check sessions on www.spellchecker.net from Jan 2010 - Jun 2012.
The word "sanitizes" is derived from the noun "sanitize", which itself evolved from the Latin word "sanitas", meaning "health". The noun "sanitize" appeared in the mid-19th century, influenced by the French word "sanitáire". The suffix "-ize" was added to convert the word into a verb form, which is commonly done with nouns in English to indicate an action or process.
