# perspiration

/ˌpɝspɝˈeɪʃən/ (US) · /pəspəɹˈeɪʃən/ (UK) · CEFR B2 · Noun

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/perspiration
Updated: 2026-10-13

## Definition

the liquid that comes out of your skin when you are hot or exercising. It is a more formal way to say 'sweat'.

For teachers: the salty fluid secreted by the sweat glands through the pores of the skin. Often used in medical or formal contexts to avoid the more blunt term 'sweat'.

## Examples

- He wiped the perspiration from his forehead after the run.
- The heavy humidity caused beads of perspiration to form on everyone's skin within minutes of stepping outside.
- Success is often described as a combination of natural talent and intense perspiration, emphasizing that hard work is just as vital as innate ability.

## Usage notes

- Typically uncountable when referring to the fluid itself; 'beads of' or 'drops of' are common partitives.

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