sedimentation

American  

[sed-uh-muhn-tey-shuhn] / ˌsɛd ə mənˈteɪ ʃən /

noun

1. the deposition or accumulation of sediment.

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sedimentation British  

/ ˌsɛdɪmɛnˈteɪʃən /

noun

1. the process of formation of sedimentary rocks

2. the deposition or production of sediment

3. chem biochem the process by which large molecules or macroscopic particles are concentrated in a centrifugal field in a centrifuge or ultracentrifuge

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Other Word Forms

• self-sedimentation noun

Etymology

Origin of sedimentation

First recorded in 1870–75; sediment + -ation

Explanation

The process of particles settling to the bottom of a body of water is called sedimentation. In lakes and rivers, sedimentation can sometimes cause problems for the organisms living there. The best thing about sedimentation is that it can tell geologists a lot about lakes, rivers, and rocky areas from the clues it leaves behind. Layers of sediment in rocks from past sedimentation show the action of currents, reveal fossils, and give evidence of human activity. Sedimentation can be traced back to the Latin sedimentum, "a settling or a sinking down."

Example Sentences

According to Jean-Paul Raynal, who co-directed the program during the key excavation period, repeated changes in sea level, wind-driven sedimentation, and rapid cementation of coastal sands created ideal conditions for preserving fossils and archaeological evidence.

From Science Daily • Feb. 7, 2026

For example, all five of the plant’s primary sedimentation tanks, which remove solids from wastewater, had been out of commission since March 2023.

From Los Angeles Times • Jul. 19, 2024

Those issues include problems with the four tubes such as sedimentation and cavitation — when tiny air bubbles develop while water passes through plumbing.

From Seattle Times • Apr. 16, 2024

For volcanoes on land, geologists understand the sedimentation mechanism of pyroclastic flows well, but the sediments themselves get lost easily due to erosion.

From Science Daily • Feb. 22, 2024

In general, the geologic processes entering into the formation of abrasives cover almost the full range from primary igneous processes to surface alterations and sedimentation.

From The Economic Aspect of Geology by Leith, C. K. (Charles Kenneth)