osmoregulation

American  

[oz-moh-reg-yuh-ley-shuhn, os-] / ˌɒz moʊˌrɛg yəˈleɪ ʃən, ˌɒs- /

noun

1. the process by which cells and simple organisms maintain fluid and electrolyte balance with their surroundings.

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osmoregulation British  

/ ˌɒzməʊˌrɛɡjʊˈleɪʃən /

noun

1. zoology the adjustment of the osmotic pressure of a cell or organism in relation to the surrounding fluid

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Etymology

Origin of osmoregulation

First recorded in 1930–35; osmo- + regulation

Example Sentences

Scientists wanted to determine how salinity affects ichthyocarbonate production, which is known to increase as fish adjust to saltier conditions through normal osmoregulation.

From Science Daily • May 31, 2026

That way the animal doesn't have to work as hard to maintain osmoregulation.

From Science Daily • Oct. 6, 2023

"We thought that freshwater insects might be shifting so much of their energy toward osmoregulation in saltier environments that they cannot grow or thrive," Buchwalter says.

From Science Daily • Oct. 6, 2023

Various living things have ways of controlling the effects of osmosis—a mechanism called osmoregulation.

From Textbooks • Jun. 9, 2022

I grabbed a yellow legal pad where Fred had recorded pages of notes on great white shark behavior, reproduction, and something called osmoregulation.

From "The Line Tender" by Kate Allen