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

Some types of fiber add bulk and help maintain regular bowel movements, while others slow digestion. —Carrie Madormo, Verywell Health, 5 Mar. 2026

Eating foods rich in gut-supportive nutrients, like fiber, can promote regular bowel movements, help manage inflammation, and support the growth of beneficial bacteria in the digestive tract, all of which are essential for a healthy gut. —Jillian Kubala, Health, 27 Feb. 2026

The entrepreneur began selling the Squatty Potty, a specialty footstool that helps assist in bowel movements by changing toilet posture, alongside his mother Judy in 2010. —Wesley Stenzel, Entertainment Weekly, 25 Feb. 2026

Constipation and Digestion Issues There are two types of fiber, soluble and insoluble, and both play important roles in regular bowel movements, says Laurie Allen, RDN, LDN, professor of nutrition and director of didactic program in dietetics nutrition at UNC Greensboro. —Kirsten Nunez, Martha Stewart, 25 Feb. 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