ablution

American  

[uh-bloo-shuhn] / əˈblu ʃən /

noun

1. a cleansing with water or other liquid, especially as a religious ritual.

2. the liquid thus used.

3. Usually ablutions a washing of the hands, body, etc.

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ablution British  

/ əˈbluːʃən /

noun

1. the ritual washing of a priest's hands or of sacred vessels

2. (often plural) the act of washing (esp in the phrase perform one's ablutions )

3. informal  (plural) military a washing place

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Other Word Forms

• ablutionary adjective

Etymology

Origin of ablution

1350–1400; Middle English < Latin ablūtiōn- (stem of ablūtiō ), equivalent to ablūt ( us ), past participle of abluere ( abluent ) + -iōn- -ion

Example Sentences

Having a couple of digital assistants helping us keep track of time cuts down on the potential for raised voices and helps them be a bit more autonomous with their morning ablutions.

From The Verge

Swimming seems like the most solitary activity imaginable, but in Page’s wistful, enchanting beach read — as in the memoirs above — we see how such collective ablutions form a very special kind of community.

From Seattle Times

These stones were polished and inscribed and probably intended for use in a ceremonial ritual, perhaps ablution, suggesting they originated in the seventh century.

From Scientific American

The court survey claimed to have discovered a similar stone inside the mosque, in a pond where Muslims perform ablutions.

From Washington Post

According to Islamic tradition, the Ghusl is a form of ablution, or bath which involves cleansing a body from impurities.

From BBC