feces

plural noun

fe·​ces ˈfē-(ˌ)sēz How to pronounce feces (audio)
: bodily waste discharged through the anus : excrement

Examples of feces in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web In addition, there are diseases common to cats that can be picked up through their feces. oregonlive, 29 Jan. 2023 Ferguson went to check on Price on Jan. 28, 2021, after being notified Price was consuming his own feces and urine, according to the lawsuit. Thomas Saccente, Arkansas Online, 17 Jan. 2023 An indirect way whales can be critical carbon sinks is through their feces. James Freeman, WSJ, 20 Dec. 2022 But some other countries vaccinate with live attenuated virus that, on rare occasion, can mutate and spread via vaccinated people, who excrete it through their feces. Erin Prater, Fortune, 1 Dec. 2022 Wild birds like ducks transmit the virus, known as highly pathogenic avian influenza, through their feces, feathers or direct contact with poultry. Reuters, NBC News, 25 Nov. 2022 Wisdom in Dallas’ waste Nearly two years after Houston started to study its feces, Dallas joined the CDC’s National Wastewater Surveillance System, becoming one of hundreds of participating sites across the country. Dallas News, 2 Aug. 2022 The poliovirus is mostly transmitted when a person touches their mouth after coming into contact with feces from an infected person and is most common among children. Joseph Pisani, WSJ, 30 Nov. 2022

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'feces.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Latin faec-, faex (singular) dregs

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of feces was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near feces

Cite this Entry

“Feces.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/feces. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

feces

noun plural
fe·​ces ˈfē-(ˌ)sēz How to pronounce feces (audio)
: bodily waste discharged through the anus : excrement
fecal
ˈfē-kəl
adjective

Medical Definition

feces

noun plural
fe·​ces
variants or chiefly British faeces
: bodily waste discharged through the anus : excrement

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