dialysis
Americannoun
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dialyses
plural
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Physical Chemistry. the separation of crystalloids from colloids in a solution by diffusion through a membrane.
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Biochemistry. the separation of large molecules, as proteins, from small molecules and ions in a solution by allowing the latter to pass through a semipermeable membrane.
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Medicine/Medical. (in kidney disease) the process by which uric acid and urea are removed from circulating blood by means of a dialyzer.
noun
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the separation of small molecules from large molecules and colloids in a solution by the selective diffusion of the small molecules through a semipermeable membrane
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med See haemodialysis peritoneal dialysis
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The separation of the smaller molecules in a solution from the larger molecules by passing the solution through a membrane that does not allow the large molecules to pass through.
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A medical procedure in which this technique of molecular separation is used to remove metabolic waste products or toxic substances from the blood. Dialysis is required for individuals with severe kidney failure.
Discover More
A common treatment for kidney disease is the use of a dialysis machine to filter toxic substances from the blood, a function that the kidneys normally perform.
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Etymology
Origin of dialysis
First recorded in 1580–90; from Late Latin, from Greek diálysis “separation”; equivalent to dia- + -lysis
Explanation
Dialysis is a crucial medical procedure that functions as an artificial kidney, filtering and cleaning the blood for patients with kidney failure. It also describes a process that separates small particles from large particles in a liquid by using a special membrane. Dialysis has two key meanings. Medically, it’s a life-saving treatment for people whose kidneys can't properly filter their blood: Dialysis uses either a machine or the lining of the abdomen to remove waste and excess fluids. Scientifically, dialysis involves separating different substances in a solution by allowing them to diffuse through semipermeable membranes at varying rates. Dialysis is essential in both healthcare and scientific fields.
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
"You wonder... am I going to end up with some nurse in a bed somewhere on dialysis or something like this? I have no idea."
From Barron's ● Oct. 28, 2026
Also, its new or expanding services over 2026-2027 include new operating theater, automated peritoneal dialysis, and biplane angiography system.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 29, 2026
"By 6pm that night, he was sedated and on life support and dialysis and in multiple organ failure," said Chris.
From BBC ● Sep. 22, 2026
Tim then needed dialysis for 82 days until he had an organ from a donor in January of this year.
From BBC ● Sep. 3, 2026
All those years of kidney dialysis, and his heart had killed him.
From "Genuine Fraud" by E. Lockhart
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