Meaning & use

filter

noun·Everyday

A device or material that removes unwanted particles, substances, or information from something passing through it.

See it in a sentence

The water filter removes chlorine and sediment before the water reaches the tap.

She applies a soft-focus filter to nearly every photo she posts online.

A note on using this word

Filter is also commonly used as a verb, meaning to pass something through such a device or process, as in 'filter the coffee slowly'.

Words with a similar meaning

strainerscreen

Choose a synonym to suit the sentence. Meanings can overlap without being identical.

Another way to use it

2. verb

To pass a substance through a filter, or to sort information and remove what is unwanted.

The app lets you filter search results by price and location.

Make it your own

Write a sentence using “filter”, then compare your use with the examples above.

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