What does "ablution" mean?
The act of washing something.; Originally, the purifying of oils and other substances by emulsification with hot water; now more generally, a thorough cleansing of a precipitate or other non-dissolved substance.
Ablution
/əˈbluː.ʃn̩/ noun
noun ·Moderate ·College level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: The act of washing something.; Originally, the purifying of oils and other substances by emulsification with hot water; now more generally, a thorough cleansing of a precipitate or other non-dissolved substance.
- Grammar: ablution is listed as noun.
- Nearest alternatives: bathhouse, cleaning, cleaning out, cleanse.
- Useful contrasts: contamination, dirt, pollution.
- Usage evidence: Sami performed ablution for the evening prayer.
How to use "ablution"
- Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "ablution" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
- Use the example sentence as a context check. If your sentence uses the word differently, confirm that the grammar still fits.
Meaning check
- Does the word fit the sentence's grammar?
- Does it match the intended tone rather than only the dictionary definition?
- Would a simpler synonym be clearer for the reader?
- Is there enough surrounding context to prevent ambiguity?
Source and review context
This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "ablution" in a final draft.
If a word has several senses, prefer the sense that matches your sentence's grammar and surrounding context. A correct definition can still be the wrong choice when the sentence needs a different register, emphasis, or level of specificity.
Before you rely on this definition
Read the first definition as a starting point, then check the example, synonyms, and part of speech before treating "ablution" as the right word for your sentence.
If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "ablution" with a nearby alternative so the final choice matches both meaning and reader expectation.
Compare nearby meanings
- Use synonyms when you need a softer, stronger, simpler, or more specific word.
- Use antonyms to check the boundary of the meaning and avoid accidental contrast.
- Use the example sentence to confirm the word behaves naturally in context.
- Keep the original wording when a replacement adds complexity without improving precision.
Definition decision workflow
1. Identify the role
Check whether "ablution" is acting as noun in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.
2. Test the nearest option
Compare it with "bathhouse" and other nearby choices to see whether the sentence needs a softer, stronger, or more familiar word.
3. Confirm with context
Use the example sentence below as an evidence check, then read your own sentence out loud to catch tone or rhythm problems.
Review note: Definition pages are checked for source coverage, sentence evidence, synonym support, and editorial insight before they are treated as approval-ready pages. If the evidence is too thin, the page remains available to users but is kept out of the approval-facing indexed inventory.
Final meaning check
Before publishing a sentence with "ablution", ask whether the word helps the reader understand the idea faster. A precise word should reduce confusion, not simply make the sentence look more polished.
When the definition, synonym evidence, and example context point in the same direction, the word is usually a safer choice. When they conflict, revise the sentence or choose a clearer alternative.
Definitions
Noun
- 1 The act of washing something.; Originally, the purifying of oils and other substances by emulsification with hot water; now more generally, a thorough cleansing of a precipitate or other non-dissolved substance. countable, uncountable
- 2 the ritual washing of a priest's hands or of sacred vessels wordnet
- 3 The act of washing something.; The act of washing or cleansing the body, or some part of it, as a religious rite. countable, uncountable
"Let water be brought to perform my ablutions, and let the pious Fakreddin be called to offer up his prayers with mine."
- 4 The act of washing something.; Washing oneself; bathing, cleaning oneself up. countable, humorous, literary, plural-normally, uncountable
"He followed the steps of Bella, who soon conducted him to his chamber, and left him to those ablutions which a long ride along a sandy road had rendered particularly necessary."
- 5 The act of washing something.; The rinsing of the priest's hand and the sacred vessel following the Communion with, depending on rite, water or a mix of it and wine, which may then be drunk by the priest. countable, uncountable
Show 4 more definitions
- 6 The act of washing something.; wudu, ritual washing of the limbs and head performed immediately before prayer or holding the Quran countable, uncountable
- 7 The liquid used in the cleansing or ablution. countable, uncountable
"Cast the ablutions in the main"
- 8 The ritual consumption by the deacon or priest of leftover sacred wine of host after the Communion. countable, uncountable
- 9 The location or building where the showers and basins are located. UK, countable, plural, plural-only, uncountable
Antonyms
Example
"Sami performed ablution for the evening prayer."
Common questions
What is a synonym for "ablution"?
Common synonyms include: bathhouse, cleaning, cleaning out, cleanse, cleanses, cleansing.
How do you use "ablution" in a sentence?
Sami performed ablution for the evening prayer.
How do you pronounce "ablution"?
Pronounced /əˈbluː.ʃn̩/.
Etymology
From Middle English ablucioun (“cleansing of impurities”), from Old French ablution, and its source, Late Latin ablūtiō (“a washing away”), from abluō (“wash away”), from ab- (“away”) + lavō (“wash”).