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

dialytic

ˌdī-ə-ˈli-tik 

adjective

Examples of dialysis in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Once at the hospital, he was put on dialysis, and emergency surgery was done to help relieve pressure building in his extremities, according to ESPN. —Kimberlee Speakman, People.com, 5 Apr. 2025

Time is running out for José Alfredo Pacheco, a dialysis patient in Illinois who needs a lifesaving kidney transplant. —Nicole Acevedo, NBC news, 31 Mar. 2025

Right now, more than 25 kids in San Diego are stuck on dialysis, their childhoods paused. —Melanie Sniff, San Diego Union-Tribune, 27 Mar. 2025

The company is a leading supplier of liquid and dry, acid and bicarbonate concentrates for dialysis patients in the United States. —Quartz Intelligence Newsroom, Quartz, 20 Mar. 2025

Word History

Etymology

New Latin, from Greek, separation, from dialyein to dissolve, from dia- + lyein to loosen — more at lose

First Known Use

1861, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for dialysis

• analysis
• paralysis
• cryptanalysis
• urinalysis
• electrodialysis
• haemodialysis
• hemodialysis
• microanalysis
• psychoanalysis

Kids 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

dialytic

ˌdī-ə-ˈlit-ik 

adjective