scrub in
In real, traceable use. Part of the curated seed collection; community review is coming.
Meaning · English
To thoroughly wash one's hands and forearms in preparation for performing a surgery.
Where it’s used:
Used
American English
Examples
There were no booties to wear over their shoes, and they wore scrub caps on their heads only if they were going to scrub in for a procedure. When you scrubbed in for surgery you couldn't touch anything after you finished scrubbing.
Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30)
Sources & notes
Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30 via kaikki.org).
Common questions
What does “scrub in” mean?
To thoroughly wash one's hands and forearms in preparation for performing a surgery.
Is “scrub in” formal or informal?
No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.