What is the Latin word for ablution?

The usual Latin words for “ablution” are ablūtiō, lavātiō, lōtiō; also lavō, Măcrŏbĭus, perluō. The right choice depends on the sense; see the distinctions below.

English → Latin

“ablution” in Latin

ablūtiōwashing, cleansing, ablution lavātiōa washing, bathing (action); bath (apparatus or place)lōtiōwash, washing lavōto wash, bathe; to wet, moisten Măcrŏbĭusa Roman grammarian at the end of the fourth century, author of a commentary on Cicero's perluōto wash off; to bathe manushand; bravery, valor; violence, fighting pēsa place to tread one's foot: territory, ground, soil; a rope attached to a sail in order to set; tempo, pace, time

The English word ablution itself goes back to Latin lavō, through ablūtiō.

Riddle & Arnold A Copious and Critical English–Latin Lexicon, 1864

ablution

ablutio (Macrobius, Plin.). lavatio (Plin.), lotio (Vitr.), lotura (Plin.). To perform one’s ablutions, lavari; perlui (to bathe, wash one’s self in a stream, Caes.); manus, pedes, etc., lavare.

Quick answer

What is the Latin word for ablution?: The usual Latin words for “ablution” are ablūtiō, lavātiō, lōtiō; also lavō, Măcrŏbĭus, perluō. The right choice depends on the sense; see the distinctions below.

Entry from J. E. Riddle & T. K. Arnold, A Copious and Critical English–Latin Lexicon (rev. C. Anthon, New York: Harper, 1864), digitised by Fergus J. P. Walsh, CC BY-SA 4.0; Latin markup adapted by latindictionary.co.