Meaning & use

osmosis

noun·Academic

The gradual movement of a solvent through a membrane from a less concentrated to a more concentrated solution.

See it in a sentence

Water enters plant roots by osmosis, moving from the soil into cells with higher salt concentration.

The teacher explained osmosis using a demonstration with a raw egg soaked in vinegar and syrup.

A note on using this word

Osmosis specifically involves a solvent crossing a semipermeable membrane; it is often confused with diffusion, a broader mixing process.

Words with a similar meaning

This term is best learned through its definition and examples.

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

Make it your own

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

Your draft stays on this page and is not sent anywhere.