diarrhea

noun

di·​ar·​rhea ˌdī-ə-ˈrē-ə How to pronounce diarrhea (audio)
1
: abnormally frequent intestinal evacuations with more or less fluid stools (see stool entry 1 sense 3a)
symptoms include fever, nausea, and diarrhea
2
: excessive flow
verbal diarrhea
diarrheal adjective
diarrheic adjective
diarrhetic adjective

Examples of diarrhea in a Sentence

The symptoms of the disease include fever, nausea, and diarrhea. I was taken with severe diarrhea while attending the conference.
Recent Examples on the Web There is no vaccine to prevent the gastrointestinal virus, which can cause stomach distress, vomiting and diarrhea, nor is there a medication to treat it, the CDC warns. Mary Whitfill Roeloffs, Forbes, 1 Mar. 2024 The most common symptoms are diarrhea, vomiting, nausea and stomach pain. Amanda Sealy, CNN, 24 Feb. 2024 These symptoms can include fever, muscle aches, nausea, fatigue, vomiting and diarrhea for those with a mild illness. John Tufts, The Indianapolis Star, 12 Feb. 2024 But Take Note The oxide form helps make this supplement budget-friendly, but note that this form can cause gastrointestinal side effects like diarrhea in some people. Casey Seiden, Parents, 24 Feb. 2024 The most common symptoms are vomiting, diarrhea, and stomach cramping that typically begin 12 to 48 hours after the virus has gone down your pie hole and last from one to three days. Bruce Y. Lee, Forbes, 24 Feb. 2024 Septicemia symptoms include: fever, chills, feeling tired, vomiting, diarrhea, cold hands and feet, severe body aches, rapid breathing and a a dark purple rash. The Enquirer, 23 Feb. 2024 Probiotics can trigger uncomfortable symptoms for some people, such as gas, bloating, abdominal cramping, and diarrhea as your microbiome adjusts. Shushy Rita Setrakian Ms, Verywell Health, 21 Feb. 2024 This includes causing stomach problems, constipation or diarrhea, Hill's Pet Nutrition reports. USA TODAY, 5 Feb. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'diarrhea.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Middle English diaria, from Late Latin diarrhoea, from Greek diarrhoia, from diarrhein to flow through, from dia- + rhein to flow — more at stream

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of diarrhea was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near diarrhea

Cite this Entry

“Diarrhea.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/diarrhea. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

diarrhea

noun
di·​ar·​rhea ˌdī-ə-ˈrē-ə How to pronounce diarrhea (audio)
: abnormally frequent and watery bowel movements

Medical Definition

diarrhea

noun
di·​ar·​rhea
variants or chiefly British diarrhoea
: abnormally frequent intestinal evacuations with more or less fluid stools

More from Merriam-Webster on diarrhea

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!