defecate

verb

def·​e·​cate ˈde-fi-ˌkāt 

defecated; defecating

intransitive verb

: to discharge feces from the bowels

transitive verb

1

: to discharge from the anus

2

: to free from impurity or corruption

Examples of defecate in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Contaminated Water Recreational or drinking water gets contaminated when septic tanks leak into wells, when an infected person vomits or defecates in the water, or when wastewater isn’t treated properly to decontaminate it. —Emily Kay Votruba, EverydayHealth.com, 2 Dec. 2025

Following their arrest, women were subjected to head shaving, forced ingestion of castor oil and the subsequent public humiliation of being made to walk in circles while defecating. —Zaya Rustamova, The Conversation, 19 Nov. 2025

Schaaf-Olson was cited for urinating or defecating in public – a misdemeanor offense. —Sophia Compton, FOXNews.com, 2 Nov. 2025

Per a source close to Iza, to increase attendance, Chapell had invited patrons from a nearby bar, who had arrived drunk and trashed the bar area of the mansion, urinating and defecating on the marble floors. —Jesse Hyde, Rolling Stone, 21 Oct. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Latin defaecatus, past participle of defaecare, from de- + faec-, faex dregs, lees

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 2

Rhymes for defecate

• hecate

Kids Definition

defecate

verb

def·​e·​cate ˈdef-i-ˌkāt 

defecated; defecating

: to expel feces from the bowels

defecation

ˌdef-i-ˈkā-shən 

noun

Medical Definition

defecate

verb

def·​e·​cate

variants or chiefly British defaecate

ˈdef-i-ˌkāt 

defecated; defecating

transitive verb

: to discharge from the anus

intransitive verb

: to discharge feces from the bowels