distillation

noun

dis·​til·​la·​tion ˌdi-stə-ˈlā-shən 

1

a

: the process of purifying a liquid by successive evaporation and condensation

b

: a process like distillation

gradual distillation of the truth

also : an instance of such distilling

2

: something distilled : distillate sense 2

Examples of distillation in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

After distillation, the tequila was aged for a minimum of three years in new American oak barrels with medium and high char levels, as well as in French oak casks that were previously used to age Amarone wine, a dry red wine from Italy. — Jonah Flicker, Robb Report, 12 Aug. 2026

Anthropic and OpenAI have accused Chinese open-weight model makers of large-scale, unauthorized distillation, a technique used to copy proprietary AI models. — Christopher K. Tong, The Conversation, 12 Aug. 2026

Anthropic earlier this year accused China’s DeepSeek of using distillation. — Kelvin Chan, Fortune, 11 Aug. 2026

While Vapoura’s molasses derives from sugar cane produced in Mauritius, the preparation, fermentation, distillation, maturation, blending and bottling all happen in England. — Lela London, Forbes.com, 10 Aug. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing distillation

• destructive distillation

Rhymes for distillation

• abdication
• aberration
• abjuration
• abnegation
• abrogation
• acceptation
• acclamation
• acclimation
• accusation
• activation
• actuation
• acylation

Kids Definition

distillation

noun

dis·​til·​la·​tion ˌdis-tə-ˈlā-shən 

: a process of heating a liquid or solid until it sends off a vapor and then cooling the vapor until it becomes liquid

Medical Definition

distillation

noun

dis·​til·​la·​tion ˌdis-tə-ˈlā-shən 

1

: a process that consists of driving gas or vapor from liquids or solids by heating and condensing to liquid products and that is used especially for purification, fractionation, or the formation of new substances

2

: something distilled