Word
excretion
Phoneticsex·cre·tion, stress on the second syllable
US/ɪksˈkɹiʃən/
UK/ɛkskɹˈɛʃən/
Countable & uncountable
Definition
n. waste material that your body removes, such as urine, sweat, or air you breathe out. It also means the process of removing that waste.
n. metabolic waste eliminated from an organism, and the physiological process of eliminating it through urine, faeces, sweat, or respiration.
Examples
“The body uses excretion to remove extra water and salt.”
“After the marathon, excretion through sweat helps his body cool down and balance fluids.”
“Efficient renal excretion of nitrogenous waste prevents toxic buildup, a balance that fails in kidney disease.”
Examples
simple
“The body uses excretion to remove extra water and salt.”
contextual
“After the marathon, excretion through sweat helps his body cool down and balance fluids.”
complex
“Efficient renal excretion of nitrogenous waste prevents toxic buildup, a balance that fails in kidney disease.”
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “excretion” in context.
Verb
01. eliminate through excretion
“The body eliminates excess salts through excretion in sweat and urine.”
verb + prep + noun
02. excretion occurs
“In humans, excretion occurs mainly through the kidneys and skin.”
noun + verb
03. excretion removes
“Excretion removes nitrogenous waste that would otherwise poison cells.”
noun + verb
04. increase excretion
“Diuretics increase excretion of water and sodium by the kidneys.”
verb + noun
05. inhibit excretion
“Some drugs inhibit excretion of uric acid and raise its levels.”
verb + noun
06. measure excretion
“Doctors measure excretion of creatinine to assess kidney function.”
verb + noun
Adjective
07. biliary excretion
“Some drugs undergo biliary excretion before leaving the body in faeces.”
adj + noun
08. excessive excretion
“Excessive excretion of sodium may cause dizziness and fatigue.”
adj + noun
09. fecal excretion
“Fecal excretion is the main route for eliminating undigested fibre.”
adj + noun
10. impaired renal excretion of potassium
“Impaired renal excretion of potassium can cause serious heart problems.”
11. increase urinary excretion of sodium
“This diuretic increases urinary excretion of sodium and water.”
12. measure 24-hour urinary excretion
“The clinic will measure 24-hour urinary excretion to check kidney function.”
Usage
Uncountable when referring to the process; countable, often in the plural, when referring to excreted substances.
Real-World Examples
“AFTER a single dose of a substance, its urinary excretion is commonly highest during the subsequent twenty-four hours, and then decreases with time.” Etymology
Borrowed from Middle French excrétion, or Late Latin excretio, excretionis, from Latin excerno.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.C1 AdvancedIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.7.0–8.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 5.0–5.595–113TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.945–990
- Frequency
- Occasional
- Level
- C1 · Advanced
- Updated
- アルファベット
- 読み方の一覧 →
QR code
englishreference.com/q/excretion