The elimination of all microorganisms from an object is termed:

The term that defines the elimination of all microorganisms from an object is sterilization. This process is crucial in medical and laboratory settings where the presence of any viable microorganisms can pose a risk of infection or contamination. Sterilization can be achieved through various methods, such as autoclaving, which uses high-pressure steam, or chemical methods like ethylene oxide gas.

Disinfection, by contrast, refers to the reduction of pathogenic organisms to a level where they pose no threat of disease, but it does not guarantee that all microorganisms, including spores, are eliminated. Antisepsis involves the application of antiseptic solutions to living tissue to reduce the risk of infection, while sanitization focuses on cleaning and reducing microbial populations to safe levels, but does not ensure complete elimination. Thus, the distinction lies in the completeness of microbial removal, making sterilization the correct choice for the total eradication of all microorganisms from a surface or instrument.