noun

philter

FIL-tər

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Philter (noun) means a potion or drug, especially a love potion meant to make whoever drinks it fall in love with the person who gave it. Example: “In the old story, the two lovers drink a philter by mistake and fall hopelessly in love.”

noun

literary A potion or drug, especially a love potion meant to make whoever drinks it fall in love with the person who gave it.

"In the old story, the two lovers drink a philter by mistake and fall hopelessly in love."

"The witch was said to brew a philter that could win anyone's affection."

"He half-joked that he needed a philter to win her over."

verb

literary To give someone a love potion, or to charm them into feeling love or desire.

"The sorceress claimed she could philter a reluctant heart into loving her."

"He was philtered into an affection he could not explain."

How to use philter

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishA magic potion for making someone fall in love with you.

When to use it

It belongs to storytelling and old or literary contexts rather than everyday speech.

Memory tip

Philter and filter are homophones in speech, so rely on spelling and context, not sound, to tell them apart.

Trace the full origin ↓

Easily confused with

filter →

Common pairings

brew a philter a love philter drink a philter

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C2 · Advanced serendipity Fortunate discoveries made entirely by accident.

Gen Z slang rizz Charm — the ability to attract a romantic interest.

B2 · Intermediate empathy The capacity to share another person’s feelings.

C1 · Advanced nonchalant Casually calm and relaxed; unconcerned.

Internet slang delulu Delusional — believing something against the odds.

Etymology nostalgia Greek nostos “return home” + algos “pain”.

C2 · Advanced serendipity Fortunate discoveries made entirely by accident.

Gen Z slang rizz Charm — the ability to attract a romantic interest.

B2 · Intermediate empathy The capacity to share another person’s feelings.

C1 · Advanced nonchalant Casually calm and relaxed; unconcerned.

Internet slang delulu Delusional — believing something against the odds.

Etymology nostalgia Greek nostos “return home” + algos “pain”.

Test yourself on “philter” A quick quiz — meaning, synonyms & usage →

Fill the gap

Can you complete this real example?

In the old story, the two lovers drink a _____ by mistake and fall hopelessly in love.

Etymology

Philter was borrowed from Middle French philtre, which goes back to the Ancient Greek phíltron. That word was built on phileō, meaning 'to love'.

Origin: Middle French

Rhymes for philter

filter

See all rhymes for philter →

Frequently asked questions

What does philter mean?

It is a potion or charm, especially a love potion meant to make the drinker fall for whoever gave it.

Is philter the same word as filter?

No, though they sound identical in speech. A philter is a love potion, while a filter removes unwanted material from a liquid or gas.

Is philtre the same word as philter?

Yes, philtre is simply the British spelling of philter.

What is the meaning of philter?

"philter" (noun) means a potion or drug, especially a love potion meant to make whoever drinks it fall in love with the person who gave it.