Meaning of hygiene theater | Babel Free

Definitions

Acts of cleaning intended more for the purpose of making an area appear safe and clear of disease-causing agents than actually achieving that aim.

uncountable

Examples

“It seems baffling that despite mounting evidence of [ventilation's] importance, we are stuck practicing hygiene theater—constantly deep cleaning everything—while not noticing the air we breathe⟳.”

“The persistence of such practices has led to the advent of a derisive term — ‘hygiene theater’ — to describe⟳ rituals that appear⟳ to do little to stop⟳ the virus from spreading.”

“[Bruce] Schneier agrees that Covid-19 has ushered in an era of hygiene theatre. “Like⟳ security theatre,” he says, “hygiene theatre comes from bad risk⟳ analysis – really, from ignorance.””

CEFR level