[adj] deficient in originality or creativity; lacking powers of invention:i"a sterile ideology lacking in originality"; "unimaginative development of a musical theme"; "uninspired writing"
[adj] not bearing offspring; "a barren woman"; "learned early in his marriage that he was sterile"
[adj] free of or using methods to keep free of pathological microorganisms; "a sterile operating area"; "aseptic surgical instruments"; "aseptic surgical techniques"