apheresis
noun
aphe·re·sis
ˌa-fə-ˈrē-səs 
plural aphereses
ˌa-fə-ˈrē-ˌsēz
: withdrawal of blood from a donor's body, removal of one or more blood components (such as plasma, platelets, or white blood cells), and transfusion of the remaining blood back into the donor
called also pheresis
Examples of apheresis in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
The treatment involves a patient's blood being moved through an apheresis machine, according to the National Institute of Health.
—
Anna Kaufman, USA Today, 21 Jan. 2026
The Food and Drug Administration only approves apheresis (blood filtering) devices for specific medical indications, such as autoimmune disorders, certain blood cancers and plasma exchange for specific diseases.
—Melissa Rudy, FOXNews.com, 5 Dec. 2025
After five days of shots to stimulate stem cell production, the donor is hooked up to an apheresis machine that takes the blood out of the body, collects the stem cells and then puts the blood back into the body.
—Nicole Villalpando, Austin American Statesman, 14 Oct. 2025
This unique process begins with a biopsy of the patient’s tumor and apheresis to extract white blood cells.
—William Mullane, USA TODAY, 17 Dec. 2024
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Anna Kaufman, USA Today, 21 Jan. 2026
The Food and Drug Administration only approves apheresis (blood filtering) devices for specific medical indications, such as autoimmune disorders, certain blood cancers and plasma exchange for specific diseases.
—Melissa Rudy, FOXNews.com, 5 Dec. 2025
After five days of shots to stimulate stem cell production, the donor is hooked up to an apheresis machine that takes the blood out of the body, collects the stem cells and then puts the blood back into the body.
—Nicole Villalpando, Austin American Statesman, 14 Oct. 2025
This unique process begins with a biopsy of the patient’s tumor and apheresis to extract white blood cells.
—William Mullane, USA TODAY, 17 Dec. 2024
See All Example Sentences for apheresis
Cite this Entry
“Apheresis.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/apheresis. Accessed 15 Feb. 2026.
Copy CitationMedical Definition
apheresis
noun
aphe·re·sis
ˌa-fə-ˈrē-səs
plural aphereses
-ˌsēz
: withdrawal of blood from a donor's body, removal of one or more components (as plasma, blood platelets, or white blood cells) from the blood, and transfusion of the remaining blood back into the donor
called also pheresis
see leukapheresis, plasmapheresis, plateletpheresisLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
