filtration

noun

fil·​tra·​tion fil-ˈtrā-shən 

1

: the process of filtering

2

: the process of passing through or as if through a filter

also : diffusion

Examples of filtration in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

There’s a pervasive sense in the area that the risks are real; the local water utility recently installed a $46-million carbon-filtration system to clear the region’s drinking water. —Patrick Sisson, Scientific American, 9 Mar. 2026

Large breaches in the walls have been sealed, and Tepco built a filtration system to treat, store and — since 2023 — discharge water into the nearby ocean. —Yusuke Maekawa, Bloomberg, 8 Mar. 2026

On top of all of those practices, John also routinely undergoes extracorporeal blood oxygenation and ozonation treatments, which essentially serves as blood filtration—sort of like dialysis. —Sydney Lake, Fortune, 8 Mar. 2026

Their current focus is installing pre-filtration and UV sanitization systems at homes within the impact zone. —Brad Hamilton, CBS News, 7 Mar. 2026

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from Middle French & Medieval Latin; Middle French, borrowed from Medieval Latin filtrātiōn-, filtrātiō, from filtrāre "to pass through a filter" + Latin -tiōn-, -tiō, suffix of verbal action — more at filtrate

First Known Use

1602, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for filtration

• ablation
• bination
• carnation
• cassation
• castration
• causation
• centration
• cessation
• cetacean
• chelation
• citation
• collation

Kids Definition

filtration

noun

fil·​tra·​tion fil-ˈtrā-shən 

: the act or process of filtering

Medical Definition

filtration

noun

fil·​tra·​tion fil-ˈtrā-shən 

1

: the process of filtering

2

: the process of passing through or as if through a filter

also : diffusion

the kidney produces urine by filtration