dialysis

noun

di·​al·​y·​sis dī-ˈa-lə-səs 

plural dialyses dī-ˈa-lə-ˌsēz 

1

: the separation of substances in solution by means of their unequal diffusion through semipermeable membranes

especially : such a separation of colloids from soluble substances

2

: the process of removing blood from an artery (as of a patient affected with kidney failure), purifying it by dialysis, adding vital substances, and returning it to a vein

called also hemodialysis

dialytic

ˌdī-ə-ˈli-tik 

adjective

Examples of dialysis in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Every night, Hallum connected a tube from her dialysis machine to her abdomen. —Kyle Melnick, Washington Post, 21 Nov. 2023

Other big news: Luxury is out; so is kidney dialysis after the latest Ozempic trial. —WSJ, 11 Oct. 2023

Hsu isn’t calling for a radical revision of dialysis care. —Usha Lee McFarling, STAT, 28 Sep. 2023

That raise wouldn’t apply to doctors and nurses, but to most everyone else who works at hospitals, dialysis clinics or other health care facilities. —Adam Beam, Fortune, 28 Sep. 2023

Some examples include: pregnancy, chronic medical conditions and ongoing and active medical treatment such as chemotherapy or dialysis or home healthcare services. —Rae Johnson, The Courier-Journal, 31 Aug. 2023

As the illness progressed, Kleinberg was facing renal failure and underwent dialysis three times a week for six years before receiving a kidney transplant in 2007. —Ashley Cullins, The Hollywood Reporter, 19 Aug. 2023

Israeli airstrikes damaged the solar panels powering al-Shifa’s main hospital ward on Nov. 6, reducing the hospital’s supply to a secondary generator now reserved for only critical oxygen and dialysis care. —Cate Brown, Washington Post, 9 Nov. 2023

Emmie was born with underdeveloped lungs, and needed dialysis to stay alive. —Cara Lynn Shultz, Peoplemag, 27 Oct. 2023

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Word History

Etymology

New Latin, from Greek, separation, from dialyein to dissolve, from dia- + lyein to loosen — more at lose

First Known Use

1861, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

dialysis

noun

di·​al·​y·​sis dī-ˈal-ə-səs 

plural dialyses -ə-ˌsēz 

1

: the separation of substances in solution by means of their unequal diffusion through membranes with pores of a specified maximum size

especially : such a separation of colloids from dissolved substances

2

: the process of removing blood from an artery (as of a patient with failing kidneys), purifying it by dialysis, and returning it to a vein

Medical Definition

dialysis

noun

di·​al·​y·​sis dī-ˈal-ə-səs 

plural dialyses -ˌsēz 

1

: the separation of substances in solution by means of their unequal diffusion through semipermeable membranes

especially : such a separation of colloids from soluble substances

2

: either of two medical procedures to remove wastes or toxins from the blood and adjust fluid and electrolyte imbalances by utilizing rates at which substances diffuse through a semipermeable membrane:

a

: the process of removing blood from an artery (as of a kidney patient), purifying it by dialysis, adding vital substances, and returning it to a vein

called also hemodialysis

b

: a procedure performed in the peritoneal cavity in which the peritoneum acts as the semipermeable membrane

called also peritoneal dialysis

dialytic

ˌdī-ə-ˈlit-ik 

adjective