colorectal

adjective

co·​lo·​rec·​tal ˌkō-lō-ˈrek-tᵊl 

: relating to or affecting the colon and rectum

colorectal cancer

Examples of colorectal in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Patients who underwent colorectal surgery and took Ambien required less opioid medication during and in the first 24 hours after the procedure. — Angelica Stabile, FOXNews.com, 23 Oct. 2026

In recent months, the German company BioNTech announced clinical trial failures for experimental vaccines for colorectal and head and neck cancers. — David Cox, NBC news, 23 Oct. 2026

Today, about 45 percent of new colorectal cancers are being diagnosed in adults younger than 65. — Emily Kay Votruba, EverydayHealth.com, 15 Oct. 2026

In fact, lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer death among women, and more women die from lung cancer than breast, ovarian and colorectal cancer each year. — Estelamari Rodriguez, The Conversation, 14 Oct. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1889, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for colorectal

• anorectal
• dialectal
• erectile
• projectile
• rectal

Medical Definition

colorectal

adjective

co·​lo·​rec·​tal ˌkō-lə-ˈrek-tᵊl, ˌkäl-ə- 

: relating to or affecting the colon and the rectum

colorectal cancer