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

Malone never had normal bowel movements in his 16 months of life, his parents would later tell investigators. — Audrey Dutton, ProPublica, 25 Aug. 2026

Cyclosporiasis - caused by the parasite cyclospora - is an illness that has gone viral for its symptoms of explosive bowel movements. — Amethyst Martinez, USA Today, 19 Aug. 2026

In addition to potassium, bananas provide soluble fiber, which supports regular bowel movements. — Olivia McIntosh, Martha Stewart, 14 Aug. 2026

Eating fiber-rich foods, like whole grains and blueberries, can help regulate bowel movements and support gut health. — Colleen Doherty, Verywell Health, 10 Aug. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1870, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for bowel movement

• improvement

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