kidney

noun

kid·​ney ˈkid-nē 

plural kidneys

1

a

: one of a pair of vertebrate organs situated in the body cavity near the spinal column that excrete waste products of metabolism, in humans are bean-shaped organs about 4¹/₂ inches (11¹/₂ centimeters) long lying behind the peritoneum in a mass of fatty tissue, and consist chiefly of nephrons by which urine is secreted, collected, and discharged into a main cavity from which it is conveyed by the ureter to the bladder

b

: any of various excretory organs of invertebrate animals

2

: the kidney of an animal eaten as food

3

: sort or kind especially with regard to temperament

a nice helpful guy, of a different kidney entirely from the … Secret Police

—Paula Lecler

Synonyms

• breed
• class
• description
• feather
• genre
• ilk
• kind
• like
• manner
• nature
• order
• sort
• species
• strain
• stripe
• type
• variety

Examples of kidney in a Sentence

a patient with a damaged kidney

her new boyfriend is of a different kidney than what she usually dates

Recent Examples on the Web

If left untreated, complications like heart disease, kidney disease, nerve damage, and vision loss can happen.2 This may sound scary, but type 2 diabetes is a common condition that can be managed with the right treatment and lifestyle changes. —Lauryn Higgins, Health, 16 Apr. 2024

This can result in lung cancer, chronic bronchitis and kidney disease. —Eduardo Cuevas, USA TODAY, 16 Apr. 2024

Symptoms can be delayed and include drowsiness, vomiting, kidney damage and death, experts said. —Tanasia Kenney, Miami Herald, 12 Apr. 2024

What about the company Vertex didn’t buy? Vertex Pharmaceuticals’ decision to pay $4.9 billion for Alpine Immune Sciences cast a spotlight on the severe kidney disease IgA nephropathy — and, by extension, a company called Vera Therapeutics. —Damian Garde, STAT, 12 Apr. 2024

However, Consumer Reports specified that, even in small amounts, these heavy metals can cause developmental problems in children, as well as hypertension and kidney damage. —Grace Tucker, The Enquirer, 10 Apr. 2024

Managing the disease is crucial to prevent serious complications such as blindness, heart disease, and kidney damage. —Amber Smith, Discover Magazine, 3 Apr. 2024

In adults, lead exposure is associated with kidney damage, high blood pressure and cardiovascular problems. —Pien Huang, NPR, 1 Apr. 2024

Additionally, both the American Society of Nephrology and National Kidney Foundation have pushed laboratories to start using race-free equations when assessing kidney functions. —Rayna Reid Rayford, Essence, 4 Apr. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Middle English

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing kidney

• kidney bean
• kidney stone
• polycystic kidney disease

Kids Definition

kidney

noun

kid·​ney ˈkid-nē 

plural kidneys

1

: either of a pair of oval to bean-shaped organs located in the back part of the abdomen near the spine that give off waste products in the form of urine

2

: an organ of an invertebrate animal that gives off waste

Medical Definition

kidney

noun

kid·​ney ˈkid-nē 

plural kidneys

1

: one of a pair of vertebrate organs situated in the body cavity near the spinal column that excrete waste products of metabolism, in humans are bean-shaped organs about 4¹/₂ inches (11¹/₂ centimeters) long lying behind the peritoneum in a mass of fatty tissue, and consist chiefly of nephrons by which urine is secreted, collected, and discharged into the renal pelvis whence it is conveyed by the ureter to the bladder compare mesonephros, metanephros, pronephros

2

: any of various excretory organs of invertebrate animals