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

Some patients experience bowel blockages or inflammation of the pancreas—a painful and potentially dangerous condition known as pancreatitis. —Nicholas Cozzi, Time, 22 Aug. 2025

Raised in Cairns, Australia by a single mum, Rossi’s career path was shaped early on by family loss: her grandmother’s battle with bowel cancer during her final year of university in 2009. —Eleanor Pringle, Fortune, 20 Aug. 2025

Chia seed water can also be a secret weapon for preventing traveler's constipation and supporting regular bowel movements.1 One of their most unique characteristics is their ability to act as a binding agent in recipes, often in place of ingredients like eggs or thickeners. —Sohaib Imtiaz, Verywell Health, 20 Aug. 2025

She's had numerous surgeries (her first at the age of 21) including deep excisions on her bowel, colon, liver, and ovaries. —Alyce Collins, MSNBC Newsweek, 15 Aug. 2025

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

• bowel movement
• inflammatory bowel disease
• irritable bowel syndrome

Rhymes for bowel

• dowel
• howel
• howell
• towel
• vowel
• avowal
• disavowal

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