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
Examples of dialysis in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Wilson ended up back on dialysis after several years of good health.
—
Tribune News Service, The Mercury News, 18 Oct. 2024
Willem Kolff, inventor of kidney dialysis, suffered from dyslexia, but because this condition went unrecognized at the time, he was punished in school for his poor reading and spelling.
—Jonathan Wai, Forbes, 10 Oct. 2024
The recommendations vary significantly depending on several factors, including whether a person is on dialysis.
—Amber J. Tresca, Verywell Health, 8 Oct. 2024
Baxter also makes specialty fluids, such as peritoneal dialysis fluid, which helps patients with kidney failure filter waste from their blood, as well as irrigation fluids, used during procedures to clean or flush wounds.
—NBC News, 4 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for dialysis 
Tribune News Service, The Mercury News, 18 Oct. 2024
Willem Kolff, inventor of kidney dialysis, suffered from dyslexia, but because this condition went unrecognized at the time, he was punished in school for his poor reading and spelling.
—Jonathan Wai, Forbes, 10 Oct. 2024
The recommendations vary significantly depending on several factors, including whether a person is on dialysis.
—Amber J. Tresca, Verywell Health, 8 Oct. 2024
Baxter also makes specialty fluids, such as peritoneal dialysis fluid, which helps patients with kidney failure filter waste from their blood, as well as irrigation fluids, used during procedures to clean or flush wounds.
—NBC News, 4 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for dialysis
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'dialysis.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near dialysis
Cite this Entry
“Dialysis.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/dialysis. Accessed 2 Nov. 2024.
Copy CitationKids 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
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