bowel movement

noun

plural bowel movements
: an act of passing usually solid waste through the rectum and anus
He had a two-day history of right lower abdominal pain … without bowel movements.William W. Scott, Jr. et al.
also : fecal matter expelled at one passage : stool sense 3a
Cats get infected from contact with other cats' bowel movements or by predation. Donald Caslow

Examples of bowel movement in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
And, there is even some emerging clinical-trial evidence that extra virgin olive oil can improve bowel movement frequency and constipation. Beatrice Zocchi, Vogue, 29 Jan. 2026 Thanks to their high fiber content and their ability to absorb water, chia seeds can soften your stool and support regular bowel movements. Team Verywell Health, Verywell Health, 27 Jan. 2026 Consuming flaxseed oil can promote regular bowel movements. Bestreviews, Mercury News, 27 Jan. 2026 Younger individuals with colorectal cancer may not seek medical attention for symptoms such as bleeding in stools, difficult bowel movements, bloating or signs of anemia, all of which can sometimes be confused with other health issues. Lauren J. Young, Scientific American, 22 Jan. 2026 See All Example Sentences for bowel movement

Word History

First Known Use

1870, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of bowel movement was in 1870

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Bowel movement.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/bowel%20movement. Accessed 4 Feb. 2026.

Kids Definition

bowel movement

noun
: an act of passing usually solid waste through the rectum and anus
also : fecal matter expelled at one passage : stool

Medical Definition

bowel movement

noun
: an act of passing usually solid waste through the rectum and anus
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster