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

Often, his sister said, Isaiah was kept chained up overnight as punishment and left to urinate or defecate on himself. — Rebecca Ellis, Los Angeles Times, 18 Sep. 2026

God created, Linnaeus organized, Hoser defecated in the middle of the room. — Dan Piepenbring, Harpers Magazine, 4 Aug. 2026

Last month after feces were found on the ground at a Noah Kahan concert, the singer asked fans not to defecate on themselves at shows. — Mike Stunson, USA Today, 21 July 2026

Menelaus describes how the men, stacked on top of each other amid stiflingly hot conditions, also had to urinate and defecate on one another. — David MacK, CNN Money, 18 July 2026

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