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

Treatment methods focus on alleviating constipation and restoring normal bowel movements. —Cristina Mutchler, Health, 24 Apr. 2025

Experts believe that constipation from antipsychotics may be due to the medication slowing the movement of your gastrointestinal tract, making bowel movements more difficult.2 Not drinking enough fluids or getting enough exercise are factors that may also contribute to constipation. —Mary Choy, Verywell Health, 16 Apr. 2025

And the man who was held at the hospital while the two sides fought over his bowel movements says he was humiliated and violated by the experience. —Jon Schuppe, NBC News, 23 Feb. 2025

Take enough time to have regular and relaxed bowel movements. —Cristina Mutchler, Health, 8 Apr. 2025

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