filtration

IPA/fɪlˈtreɪʃn/
KK[fɪltrˈeʃən]IPA/fɪlˈtreɪʃn/

filtration — noun

1. a process that removes solid pieces from a gas or a liquid by pushing the mixtur

1.nounB2
Definition

a process that removes solid pieces from a gas or a liquid by pushing the mixture through a material that traps the solids and lets the fluid flow through

Example

The new water filtration plant supplies clean drinking water to over 50,000 homes.

collocation: water filtration plant

Ayesha's coffee tastes much better since she started using a paper filtration system.

Synonyms
  • filtering

    a more everyday word for the same action; 'filtration' is more common in technical or formal contexts

Usage Note

Filtration is an uncountable noun in everyday English and is not used with the indefinite article 'a'. To refer to the device, use 'filter' or 'filtration system'.

Common Mistakes

I bought a new filtration for my aquarium.
I bought a new filtration system for my aquarium.
'filtration' is an uncountable process noun; use 'filter' or 'filtration system' for the physical device.

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

Filtration and filtering refer to the same physical process of removing solids from a fluid, but filtration is more formal and often used in scientific, industrial, or technical writing (e.g., 'water filtration plant'), whereas filtering is the everyday gerund form (e.g., 'filtering your morning coffee'). Purification goes further than filtration — it removes chemicals, germs, and impurities, not just solid particles; you purify water with chemicals or UV light, but you filter it through paper or sand. Straining is a coarser kitchen version of filtration — you strain cooked pasta from water or tea leaves from tea, using large holes that let liquid through while catching bigger solids. In short: filtration separates small particles from fluids through a fine barrier; straining catches larger pieces with a mesh; purification removes invisible contaminants.

filtration ↗filtering ↗purification ↗straining ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

  • water filtration
  • air filtration
  • filtration system
  • filtration process
  • filtration plant
  • filtration device
  • filtration method
  • filtration equipment
  • filtration pump

Phrases

  • filtration unit

Prepositions

Etymology

LatinFrenchEnglish

Filtration comes from the Latin word 'filtrum,' meaning a piece of felt used to strain liquids, combined with the suffix '-ation,' which turns a verb into a noun meaning 'the process of.' The modern scientific sense of passing fluids through a porous material to remove particles developed in the early 18th century as chemistry and water treatment advanced.