secretion

noun

se·​cre·​tion si-ˈkrē-shən 

1

a

: the process of segregating, elaborating, and releasing some material either functionally specialized (such as saliva) or isolated for excretion (such as urine)

b

: a product of secretion formed by an animal or plant

especially : one performing a specific useful function in the organism

2

[secrete entry 2] : the act of hiding something : concealment

secretionary

si-ˈkrē-shə-ˌner-ē 

adjective

Synonyms

• stashing
• hiding
• concealment
• caching

Examples of secretion in a Sentence

the secretion of stomach acids

root secretions that repel insects

Recent Examples on the Web

Photograph: Amazon Cosrx Advanced Snail Mucin 96 Percent Power Repairing Essence Serum $25 $13 (48% off) Amazon $25 Nordstrom Cosrx's Snail 96 Mucin Essence—with 96 percent snail secretion—hydrates and repairs skin, fragrance-free. —Parker Hall, Wired News, 8 July 2025

Cancer leaves specific traces in a person's body and bodily secretions, which dogs, with their noses estimated to be between 1,000 and 10,000 times better than a human's, are able to smell. —Maria Azzurra Volpe, MSNBC Newsweek, 3 July 2025

Animal research shows monk fruit doesn't raise blood sugar or trigger insulin secretion like table sugar does. —Melissa Nieves, Verywell Health, 2 June 2025

Taken altogether, the study’s findings suggest that melatonin secretion and ADHD are genetically linked, and this relationship appears to go beyond bad sleeping habits. —Paul McClure 09, New Atlas, 9 June 2025

Word History

Etymology

French sécrétion, from Latin secretion-, secretio separation, from secernere to separate — more at secret

First Known Use

1646, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing secretion

• hyper-secretion
• internal secretion

Rhymes for secretion

• accretion
• completion
• concretion
• deletion
• depletion
• excretion
• repletion
• carburetion
• grecian
• hypersecretion

Kids Definition

secretion

noun

se·​cre·​tion si-ˈkrē-shən 

1

a

: the process of giving off a substance (as saliva)

b

: a substance produced and given off by a gland

especially : one (as an enzyme) that performs a specific useful function in the body

2

: concealment sense 1

Medical Definition

secretion

noun

se·​cre·​tion si-ˈkrē-shən 

1

: the process of segregating, elaborating, and releasing some material either functionally specialized (as saliva) or isolated for excretion (as urine)

2

: a product of secretion formed by an animal or plant

especially : one performing a specific useful function in the organism