A substance or product, usually a liquid or gel, that kills germs and bacteria to make something clean and safe.
From 'sanitize' (Latin 'sanitas' health + '-ize' to make), plus '-er' agent suffix. This term gained prominence in the 20th century with modern hygiene awareness.
Hand sanitizer was invented in the 1960s by a healthcare worker, but it didn't become culturally important until the COVID-19 pandemic, when it suddenly became a scarce, precious commodity—showing how quickly objects can shift from obscure to essential.
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