circulation

noun

cir·​cu·​la·​tion ˌsər-kyə-ˈlā-shən 

1

: orderly movement through a circuit

especially : the movement of blood through the vessels of the body induced by the pumping action of the heart

2

: flow

3

a

: passage or transmission from person to person or place to place

especially : the interchange of currency

coins in circulation

b

: the extent of dissemination: such as

(1)

: the average number of copies of a publication sold over a given period

(2)

: the total number of items borrowed from a library

Examples of circulation in a Sentence

He has bad circulation in his legs.

The drug improves blood circulation.

The attic has poor air circulation.

the circulation of ocean waters

Let's open the windows to get some circulation in here.

This memo is not meant for circulation.

The coins have recently entered circulation.

Recent Examples on the Web

If mechanical parts fail or electricity cuts out, coolant circulation can quickly stop. — Aman Tripathi, Interesting Engineering, 9 Oct. 2026

The names may be out of circulation, but storms including Ian, Ida, Igor, Ike, Inez, Ingrid, Iota, Irene, Irma, Isabel and Ivan left lasting legacies. — Robin Webb, Sun Sentinel, 8 Oct. 2026

Kelvin waves are a typical feature of El Niño, says Severine Fournier, an ocean circulation researcher at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory in California. — Stephanie Pappas, Scientific American, 8 Oct. 2026

Currently, the San Francisco Bay Area is categorized as having high circulation of influenza, whereas activity in the Sacramento region is categorized as moderate to high, according to data from the California Department of Public Health. — Brady Halbleib, CBS News, 8 Oct. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1535, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing circulation

• back in/into circulation
• in circulation
• out of circulation
• pulmonary circulation

Rhymes for circulation

• abdication
• aberration
• abjuration
• abnegation
• abrogation
• acceptation
• acclamation
• acclimation
• accusation
• activation
• actuation
• acylation

Kids Definition

circulation

noun

cir·​cu·​la·​tion ˌsər-kyə-ˈlā-shən 

1

: orderly movement through a circuit

especially : the movement of blood through the vessels of the body caused by the pumping action of the heart

2

a

: passage from person to person or place to place

coins in circulation

b

: the average number of copies (as of a newspaper) sold over a given period

Medical Definition

circulation

noun

cir·​cu·​la·​tion ˌsər-kyə-ˈlā-shən 

: the movement of blood through the vessels of the body that is induced by the pumping action of the heart and serves to distribute nutrients and oxygen to and remove waste products from all parts of the body see pulmonary circulation, systemic circulation