Expectoration: meaning, definitions and examples

Used in medical or formal contexts to refer to the expulsion of mucus or phlegm from the lungs and throat by coughing or hawking.

• The patient showed frequent expectoration throughout the examination.
• A significant amount of expectoration can be noted when the condition worsens.

Typically used in casual conversation to describe the action of forcefully expelling saliva or other substances from the mouth.

• He spat out the water after rinsing his mouth.
• The taste was so awful she had to spit it out immediately.

Commonly used in both casual and medical settings to describe the action of expelling mucus, phlegm, or other substances from the lungs by coughing.

• She was coughing up phlegm after being sick for several days.
• Doctors were concerned by how much blood the patient was coughing up.

Typically used in everyday situations to describe the action people take to remove minor obstructions or irritants in their throat, often done before speaking.

• He cleared his throat before addressing the audience.
• It's common to clear the throat when you feel a tickle or slight irritation.

This word is commonly used in medical or clinical settings when referring to the act of coughing up and spitting out phlegm or mucus from the respiratory tract.

• The patient was experiencing frequent expectoration of mucus due to bronchitis

Discharge is typically used in broader medical contexts to describe the release of fluids from the body, but it can also be used in other professional settings like the release of waste or the formal release of people from a hospital or military service.

• The nurse observed a yellow discharge from the wound
• The soldier was given an honorable discharge from the army

Ejection is most often used in mechanical or formal contexts, and it implies a forceful or abrupt removal or release of something.

• The pilot's ejection seat saved his life during the emergency
• The malfunction caused an ejection of steam from the boiler

This word is generally used in formal or legal contexts to refer to the act of forcing someone or something out, often with a negative connotation.

• The student's continuous misbehavior led to his expulsion from school
• The expulsion of the diplomats strained international relations