What term is used for the diffusion of water through a selectively permeable membrane?

The term that describes the diffusion of water through a selectively permeable membrane is osmosis. Osmosis is a specific type of passive transport that refers exclusively to the movement of water molecules from an area of lower solute concentration to an area of higher solute concentration. This process continues until there is an equilibrium in solute concentration on both sides of the membrane.

The selectively permeable nature of the membrane allows for the passage of water while restricting the movement of certain solutes. This distinguishes osmosis from simple diffusion, which can involve the movement of various substances, not just water. In contrast, filtration involves the movement of fluids and solutes through a membrane due to pressure differences, and active transport requires energy to move substances against their concentration gradient, which further differentiates it from the passive process of osmosis.