perspiration

American  

[pur-spuh-ray-shuhn] / ˈpɜr spəˈreɪ ʃən /

noun

• perspirations
  plural

1. a salty, watery fluid secreted by the sweat glands of the skin, especially when very warm as a result of strenuous exertion; sweat.

2. the act or process of perspiring.

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perspiration British  

/ ˌpɜːspəˈreɪʃən /

noun

1. the act or process of insensibly eliminating fluid through the pores of the skin, which evaporates immediately

2. the sensible elimination of fluid through the pores of the skin, which is visible as droplets on the skin

3. the salty fluid secreted through the pores of the skin; sweat

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Synonym Usage

Perspiration, sweat refer primarily to moisture exuded by animals and people from the pores of the skin. Perspiration is often regarded as the more polite word, and is often used overfastidiously by those who consider sweat coarse; but sweat is a strong word and in some cases obviously more appropriate: a light perspiration; the sweat of his brow. Sweat is always used when referring to animals or objects: Sweat drips from a horse's flanks. It may also be used metaphorically of objects: Sweat forms on apples after they are gathered.

Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• perspirations
  plural

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Etymology

Origin of perspiration

First recorded in 1605–15, in sense “a breathing through”; 1620–30 for current senses; from New Latin perspīrātiōn- (stem of perspīrātiō ) “imperceptible sweating,” literally, “a breathing through.” See perspire, -ation

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Explanation

Perspiration is a polite name for "sweat." Perspiration is what makes you dread gym class and what keeps deodorant manufacturers in business. Let's face it, sweat is kind of gross — it drips down your face and can even make your body smell badly. But, it doesn't sound so bad if you refer to it as perspiration, does it? Still, perspiration means that salty fluid secreted by your sweat glands, when your body is hot. Perspiration can also be used to mean the process of sweating.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

perspiration perspirations

"There are even some rather moving, rather touching details -- namely, its silk lining shows clear signs of perspiration," he said.

From Barron's ● Mar. 26, 2026

Exposure to heat, with the perspiration that follows, eventually calls for hydration.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Mar. 16, 2026

He danced with electric energy, sang with heartwarming ardency, and splashed perspiration around the Circle in the Square in “Just in Time,” portraying the 1960s chart-topper and sometime movie star Bobby Darin.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 26, 2025

The polygraph exam uses a device strapped to a subject’s body to measure physiological responses like heart rate, blood pressure and perspiration as the person answers yes-or-no questions.

From Salon ● Nov. 18, 2025

There was one strange thing about her that I found fascinating: She always had a delicate mist of perspiration across the bridge of her nose, winter or summer.

From "The Evolution of Calpurnia Tate" by Jacqueline Kelly

The heat which they maintain about the body is inconvenient and dangerous, predisposing to flooding and exhausting perspirations.

From The Physical Life of Woman: Advice to the Maiden, Wife and Mother by George H. (George Henry) Napheys

In spite, however, of the profuse perspirations from which he suffered, Ben Zoof, constant to his principles, expressed no surprise at the unwonted heat.

From Off on a Comet! a Journey through Planetary Space by Jules Verne

One person became hysterical, then another; one was seized with catalepsy, then others; some with convulsions; some with palpitations of the heart, perspirations, and other bodily disturbances.

From Blackwood's Edinburgh Magazine, Volume 62, No. 382, October 1847 by Various

In some people the very first passing of a catheter sets up a local and constitutional disturbance, the bladder being rendered irritable and intolerant, the temperature going up, and shiverings and perspirations manifesting themselves.

From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 4, Slice 1 "Bisharin" to "Bohea" by Various

Let us go also to the weakest: They have strange perspirations!

From Contemporary Belgian Poetry Selected and Translated by Jethro Bithell by Various

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