reverse osmosis

noun

: the movement of fresh water through a semipermeable membrane when pressure is applied to a solution (such as seawater) on one side of it

Examples of reverse osmosis in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

These brands typically use processes like reverse osmosis or distillation to purify their water, effectively removing fluoride. —Raja Krishnamoorthi, MSNBC Newsweek, 8 Apr. 2025

Rome plans to break ground this year on a $200 million reverse osmosis system to filter out PFAS and other pollutants. —Thomas Wheatley, Axios, 5 Mar. 2025

For more advanced needs, reverse osmosis or ion exchange systems provide powerful purification, though with higher upfront costs and energy demands. —Sahit Muja, Forbes, 14 Mar. 2025

Standard filters like reverse osmosis — which runs water through a semi-permeable membrane — typically remove a large portion of microplastics and PFAS. —Benji Jones, Vox, 10 Mar. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1921, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for reverse osmosis

• actinomycosis
• atherosclerosis
• endometriosis
• erythematosus
• erythroblastosis
• granulomatosis
• hemochromatosis
• histiocytosis
• hyperkeratosis
• ketoacidosis
• mononucleosis
• osteonecrosis