Filters refers to devices or processes that separate or remove particular components from a mixture, such as air, liquids, or data streams. It can also function as a verb, meaning to pass something through a filter. In everyday use, it often describes hardware like coffee or air filters, or software operations that sort information.
US & AU accents are Premium
Unlock all accent variations
"The air filters in the HVAC system need replacing."
"Her online search results were filtered to remove sponsored content."
"The water was filtered to remove impurities."
"The photo app lets you filter images by color, brightness, and sharpness."
The word filter comes from the Latin filtrum, meaning a felt or sieve used to strain liquids. Filtrum in Latin evolved into filtrare in Late Latin, meaning to strain or separate. In English, filter emerged in the 14th century with sense of a material through which a liquid is passed to remove impurities, or a device used for that purpose. By the 18th century, the term extended to descriptions of filtration processes in chemistry and physics, and by the 19th and 20th centuries, to mechanical devices for air and water filtration, as well as filtrations in data processing. The verb form to filter appears in English around the 16th century, sharing roots with the noun via the Latin filtrare. The concept of selective passage—allowing certain elements through while blocking others—has remained central to the word’s meaning across domains, including coffee, water purification, and digital data processing.” ,
💡 Etymology tip: Understanding word origins can help you remember pronunciation patterns and recognize related words in the same language family.
Help others use "filters" correctly by contributing grammar tips, common mistakes, and context guidance.
💡 These words have similar meanings to "filters" and can often be used interchangeably.
🔄 These words have opposite meanings to "filters" and show contrast in usage.
📚 Vocabulary tip: Learning synonyms and antonyms helps you understand nuanced differences in meaning and improves your word choice in speaking and writing.
Words that rhyme with "filters"
-ers sounds
Practice with these rhyming pairs to improve your pronunciation consistency:
🎵 Rhyme tip: Practicing with rhyming words helps you master similar sound patterns and improves your overall pronunciation accuracy.
Pronounce as FIL-tərz in US, with primary stress on the first syllable. IPA: US /ˈfɪl.tərz/; UK /ˈfɪl.təz/; AU /ˈfɪl.təz/. The final -ers animate as a voiced or vowel-like schwa before z in many accents. Face the consonants with lips relaxed, and keep the /ɪ/ as a short near-close as in 'sit'. The second syllable reduces to a light /ə/ with a quick /ɹ/ preceding the final /z/ in non-rhotic speech where post-vocalic /r/ is softened.”,
Common errors: 1) Over-emphasizing the second syllable as /ˈfɪl.tɜːrz/ or /ˈfiːl.tərz/ due to thinking of -ers as a hard syllable. 2) Dropping or softening the /l/ making it /fɪɡ.tərz/ or /fɪltərz/. Correction: keep a clear /l/ by touching the tongue to the alveolar ridge for a brief moment after /ɪ/. 3) Final /z/ misarticulation as /s/ or /ɪz/. Correction: end with voiced /z, not /s/; engage a short vocal fold vibration.”,
US tends toward /ˈfɪl.tərz/ with a clearer /ɹ/ and a pronounced schwa in the second syllable. UK often has /ˈfɪl.təz/, with more vowel reduction in the second syllable and a less rhotic r sound, sometimes sounding like /ˈfɪl.təz/. Australian typically uses /ˈfɪl.təz/ or /ˈfɪl.tɜːz/ depending on speaker; vowels may be slightly retracted and the final /z/ remains voiced. All share two syllables, but vowel quality and rhoticity vary.”,
Because it combines a consonant cluster /f/ + dark retroflex-ish /l/ alignment before a reduced syllable /tər/ and a voiced final /z/. The /l/ requires precise tongue placement to avoid blending with the following /t/; the /t/ in rapid speech can be tapped or flapped in some varieties, subtly changing the sound. The final /z/ demands voicing that may be weakened in fast speech. Practicing with minimal pairs helps lock the sequence: /f/ + /ɪ/ + /l/ + /t/ + /ər/ + /z/.
The primary stress sits on the first syllable, but the second syllable carries a reduced vowel or schwa in many dialects, making the word feel brief or clipped in rapid speech. The crucial phonemes are /f/ (labiodental fricative), /ɪ/ (short vowel), /l/ (lateral approximant), /t/ (alveolar plosive), /ər/ or /ə/ (rhythmic schwa), /z/ (voiced alveolar fricative). Keeping the sequence tight with even timing helps clarity in both formal and casual contexts.
🗣️ Voice search tip: These questions are optimized for voice search. Try asking your voice assistant any of these questions about "filters"!
No related words found
