bowel

noun

bow·​el ˈbau̇(-ə)l 

1

biology : intestine, gut

also : one of the divisions of the intestines

—usually used in plural except in medical use

the large bowel

move your bowels

2

archaic : the seat of pity, tenderness, or courage

—usually used in plural

3

bowels plural : the interior parts

especially : the deep or remote parts

bowels of the earth

bowelless

ˈbau̇(-ə)l-ləs 

adjective

Examples of bowel in a Sentence

a disease of the bowel

They dug deep into the bowels of the earth.

The engine room is down in the bowels of the ship.

Recent Examples on the Web

In between wins, the 41-year-old jockey almost died earlier this year due to a blocked bowel. —Bill Center, San Diego Union-Tribune, 10 Nov. 2023

An autopsy revealed Elvis’ only child died following complications from an obstruction in her bowel. —Nancy Dillon, Rolling Stone, 2 Nov. 2023

Walton was in his first production in January but had a small bowel perforation and had to have another surgery. —Olga Delauz, ABC News, 25 Oct. 2023

Lisa Marie died suddenly from a small bowel obstruction on Jan. 12 at the age of 54. —Erin Clack, Peoplemag, 2 Nov. 2023

Even practicing on my own was hard because many poses—inversions, compressions, and twists—stimulated my bowels. —Condé Nast, SELF, 25 Sep. 2023

Those cheap but indispensable pieces of plastic were bumping along some conveyor belt in the airport’s bowels. —Mark Naida, WSJ, 30 Aug. 2023

Compared to people taking bupropion-naltrexone, people taking a GLP-1 drug had a higher risk of pancreatitis, bowel obstruction and gastroparesis, the study found. —Berkeley Lovelace Jr., NBC News, 5 Oct. 2023

Most people can safely take laxatives if needed, but Cash said that people with chronic medical conditions (especially a history of bowel obstructions), chronic kidney disease, electrolyte abnormalities, as well as pregnant people should always ask their provider before taking a laxative. —Alyssa Hui, Verywell Health, 2 Oct. 2023

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Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Anglo-French buel, boel, from Medieval Latin botellus, from Latin, diminutive of botulus sausage

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing bowel

• inflammatory bowel disease
• bowel movement
• irritable bowel syndrome

• inflammatory bowel disease
• bowel movement
• irritable bowel syndrome

Kids Definition

bowel

noun

bow·​el ˈbau̇(-ə)l 

1

a

: intestine entry 2, gut

—usually used in plural

b

: a division of the intestine

2

plural : the interior parts

the bowels of the earth

3

archaic : supply of mercy or courage

—usually used in plural

Medical Definition

bowel

noun

bow·​el ˈbau̇(-ə)l 

: intestine, gut

also : one of the divisions of the intestines

—usually used in plural except in medical use

move your bowels

surgery of the involved bowel