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

Each joke is more unremarkable than the last and likely to slip out of one’s memory cleanly like a high-fiber bowel movement. —Eric Vilas-Boas, Vulture, 18 Mar. 2026

Another worry is these products induce bowel movements that cause diarrhea, says Ahmed, which sometimes leads to dehydration, malabsorption, nutrient deficiencies and electrolyte imbalances. —Sarah Boden, NPR, 16 Mar. 2026

Any additional water helps move food through your digestive tract, breaking down nutrients and regulating bowel movements. —Jenna Anderson, Health, 13 Mar. 2026

Many people rely on their morning coffee to stimulate a bowel movement. —Michele Ross, SELF, 9 Mar. 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