dialysis
noun
di·al·y·sis dī-ˈa-lə-səs 
plural dialyses dī-ˈa-lə-ˌsēz
1
: the separation of substances in solution by means of their unequal diffusion through semipermeable membranes
especially : such a separation of colloids from soluble substances
2
: the process of removing blood from an artery (as of a patient affected with kidney failure), purifying it by dialysis, adding vital substances, and returning it to a vein
called also hemodialysis
dialytic
ˌdī-ə-ˈli-tik
adjective 
Example Sentences
Recent Examples on the Web About half of the workplaces covered by the measure would be dialysis centers, according to an SEIU-UHW representative. 
David Zahniserstaff Writer, Los Angeles Times, 12 July 2022 Hospitals and other health facilities have been trying to block a Los Angeles ordinance that would hike the minimum wage for thousands of workers at private hospitals and dialysis clinics to $25 an hour. Emily Alpert Reyes, Los Angeles Times, 4 Aug. 2022 Her recipient, Tommy Lee McCaman, got off the ball-and-chain that is dialysis, got to enjoy time with his children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. John Wilkens, San Diego Union-Tribune, 24 July 2022 About $100 million will go to the East Jerusalem Hospitals Network to improve Palestinians' access to health care services, such as oncology, dialysis, neo-natal intensive care and specialized maternity care. Michael Collins, USA TODAY, 15 July 2022 The company uses the crabs’ blood — which is blue because of its copper content — to test more than half of the world’s injectable drugs and medical devices, such as IV bags and dialysis solutions. David Abel, BostonGlobe.com, 17 July 2022 While covering the expenses of potentially thousands of donors would cost money, the law would actually end up saving taxpayer dollars by moving people off of dialysis, the cost of which is almost entirely borne by Medicare. Ike Brannon, Forbes, 1 June 2022 Many residents have resorted to going online to beg for access to treatment such as dialysis. New York Times, 29 Mar. 2022 Jeff Laviero underwent dialysis both times before his transplants. Pam Mcloughlin, Hartford Courant, 19 June 2022 See More
David Zahniserstaff Writer, Los Angeles Times, 12 July 2022 Hospitals and other health facilities have been trying to block a Los Angeles ordinance that would hike the minimum wage for thousands of workers at private hospitals and dialysis clinics to $25 an hour. Emily Alpert Reyes, Los Angeles Times, 4 Aug. 2022 Her recipient, Tommy Lee McCaman, got off the ball-and-chain that is dialysis, got to enjoy time with his children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. John Wilkens, San Diego Union-Tribune, 24 July 2022 About $100 million will go to the East Jerusalem Hospitals Network to improve Palestinians' access to health care services, such as oncology, dialysis, neo-natal intensive care and specialized maternity care. Michael Collins, USA TODAY, 15 July 2022 The company uses the crabs’ blood — which is blue because of its copper content — to test more than half of the world’s injectable drugs and medical devices, such as IV bags and dialysis solutions. David Abel, BostonGlobe.com, 17 July 2022 While covering the expenses of potentially thousands of donors would cost money, the law would actually end up saving taxpayer dollars by moving people off of dialysis, the cost of which is almost entirely borne by Medicare. Ike Brannon, Forbes, 1 June 2022 Many residents have resorted to going online to beg for access to treatment such as dialysis. New York Times, 29 Mar. 2022 Jeff Laviero underwent dialysis both times before his transplants. Pam Mcloughlin, Hartford Courant, 19 June 2022 See More Word History
Etymology
New Latin, from Greek, separation, from dialyein to dissolve, from dia- + lyein to loosen — more at lose
First Known Use
1861, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Medical Definition
dialysis
noun
di·al·y·sis dī-ˈal-ə-səs
plural dialyses -ˌsēz
1
: the separation of substances in solution by means of their unequal diffusion through semipermeable membranes
especially : such a separation of colloids from soluble substances
2
: either of two medical procedures to remove wastes or toxins from the blood and adjust fluid and electrolyte imbalances by utilizing rates at which substances diffuse through a semipermeable membrane:
a
: the process of removing blood from an artery (as of a kidney patient), purifying it by dialysis, adding vital substances, and returning it to a vein
called also hemodialysis
b
: a procedure performed in the peritoneal cavity in which the peritoneum acts as the semipermeable membrane
called also peritoneal dialysis