defecated; defecating

intransitive verb

: to discharge feces from the bowels

transitive verb

1
: to discharge from the anus
2
: to free from impurity or corruption

Examples of defecate 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.
Last month after feces were found on the ground at a Noah Kahan concert, the singer asked fans not to defecate on themselves at shows. Mike Stunson, USA Today, 21 July 2026 Menelaus describes how the men, stacked on top of each other amid stiflingly hot conditions, also had to urinate and defecate on one another. David MacK, CNN Money, 18 July 2026 Fans on social media shared footage of what appeared to be feces on the ground of Citizens Bank Park, claiming an attendee defecated during Kahan’s performance. Jack Irvin, PEOPLE, 29 June 2026 The whispers began when fans on social media shared footage from Citizens Bank Park claiming that someone near them had defecated on the floor. Shania Russell, Entertainment Weekly, 28 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for defecate

Word History

Etymology

Latin defaecatus, past participle of defaecare, from de- + faec-, faex dregs, lees

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 2

Time Traveler
The first known use of defecate was in the 15th century

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Defecate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/defecate. Accessed 27 Jul. 2026.

Kids Definition

defecate

verb
defecated; defecating
: to expel feces from the bowels

Medical Definition

defecate

verb
def·​e·​cate
variants or chiefly British defaecate
defecated; defecating

transitive verb

: to discharge from the anus

intransitive verb

: to discharge feces from the bowels

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