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Synonyms

secretion

American  
[si-kree-shuhn] / sɪˈkri ʃən /

noun

  1. (in a cell or gland) the act or process of separating, elaborating, and releasing a substance that fulfills some function within the organism or undergoes excretion.

  2. the product of this act or process.

secretion British  
/ sɪˈkriːʃən /

noun

  1. a substance that is released from a cell, esp a glandular cell, and is synthesized in the cell

  2. the process involved in producing and releasing such a substance from the cell

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
secretion Scientific  
/ sĭ-krē′shən /

  1. The process of secreting a substance from a cell or gland.

  2. A substance, such as saliva, mucus, tears, bile, or a hormone, that is secreted.

Other Word Forms

  • nonsecretion noun
  • nonsecretionary adjective
  • oversecretion noun
  • secretionary adjective
  • supersecretion noun

Etymology

Origin of secretion

1640–50; < Latin sēcrētiōn- (stem of sēcrētiō ), equivalent to sēcrēt ( us ) (past participle of sēcernere to secern ) + -iōn- -ion

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.

The team found that many common, non-harmful gut bacteria carry type III secretion systems.

From Science Daily • Mar. 27, 2026

Instead, they travel along environmental and host surfaces using a specialized machine known as the type 9 secretion system, or T9SS.

From Science Daily • Mar. 13, 2026

Novo’s cautious C-suite was ready to target Type 2 diabetes—an obvious choice, as GLP-1 augments insulin secretion.

From The Wall Street Journal • Nov. 28, 2025

The EU has already defined dairy items as products coming from the "normal mammary secretion".

From BBC • Oct. 8, 2025

Diluted Bundimun secretion is used in certain magical cleaning fluids.

From "Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them" by J.K. Rowling

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.