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

Here’s when construction will start up again Louisville Water’s filtration process produces residual solids that have to be removed from the treatment plant. —Caroline Neal, Louisville Courier Journal, 22 Sep. 2025

And short-term measures to improve water, sanitation and hygiene, such as point-of-use water filtration devices, could prevent 57,000 deaths a year, while water infrastructure upgrades could prevent a further 109,000 deaths a year by 2030. —Jamie Hailstone, Forbes.com, 19 Sep. 2025

Badamosi questioned whether the air-filtration systems in their hospitals could withstand the dust. —Kamal Morgan, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 17 Sep. 2025

With 100 minutes of runtime thanks to a 3,970mAh battery and HEPA filtration, as well as a base that keeps the tank empty and battery topped up, this is a vacuum that does a bit of everything very, very well. —Alex Harrington, MSNBC Newsweek, 15 Sep. 2025

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