ablution

noun

ab·​lu·​tion ə-ˈblü-shən 

a-

1

formal : the washing of one's body or part of it (as in a religious rite)

—usually plural

ritual ablutions

performing his morning ablutions

2

ablutions ə-ˈblü-shənz 

a-

plural, British : a building on a military base that houses bathing and toilet facilities

ablutionary

ə-ˈblü-shə-ˌner-ē 

-ˌne-rē

a-

adjective

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The Religious History of Ablution

Ablution derives via Middle French and Middle English from the Latin verb abluere, meaning "to wash away," formed from the prefix ab- ("away, off") and lavere ("to wash"). Early uses of the word occurred in contexts of alchemy and chemistry. The first known use of ablution to refer to washing as a religious rite occurs in Thomas More's The Apologye Made by Hym (1533). Many religions include some kind of washing of the body in their rituals, usually as a form of purification or dedication. The use of the term to refer to the action of washing one's body without any religious significance did not take hold in English until the mid-18th century. In British English, ablutions can also refer to a building housing bathing and toilet facilities on a military base.

Examples of ablution in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

For our staff members, a soothing series of ablutions is a much more rewarding way to start and end the day than, say, doom-scrolling your social media feeds. —Justin Fenner, Robb Report, 16 Aug. 2024

Just choose your moment wisely – nothing worse than disturbing a star during their morning affirmations, or even ablutions. —Remy Blumenfeld, The Hollywood Reporter, 29 June 2024

The ritual at all the shrines starts with purifying yourself at an ablution basin by washing your hands with a ladle and rinsing your mouth. —Norma Meyer, Orange County Register, 15 May 2024

Limited access to water means others cannot make the obligatory ablution before prayer. —Sana Noor Haq, CNN, 13 Mar. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Middle English ablucioun "cleansing of oil (in alchemy)," borrowed from Late Latin ablūtiōn-, ablūtiō "washing, cleansing" (Medieval Latin, "cleansing of oil"), from Latin abluere "to wash off, cleanse," from ab- ab- + -luere, form in combination of lavere "to wash" + -tiōn-, -tiō, suffix of action nouns — more at lye

First Known Use

1533, in the meaning defined at sense 1

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Kids Definition

ablution

noun

ab·​lu·​tion ə-ˈblü-shən 

a-ˈblü-

formal

: washing oneself especially as a religious rite

Medical Definition

ablution

noun

ab·​lu·​tion ə-ˈblü-shən, a-ˈblü- 

: the washing of one's body or part of it

ablutionary

-shə-ˌner-ē 

adjective