diarrhea

noun

di·​ar·​rhea ˌdī-ə-ˈrē-ə 

1

: abnormally frequent intestinal evacuations with more or less fluid stools (see stool entry 1 sense 3a)

Symptoms of the disease include fever, nausea, and diarrhea.

2

: excessive flow

verbal diarrhea

diarrheal

ˌdī-ə-ˈrē-əl 

adjective

diarrheic

ˌdī-ə-ˈrē-ik 

adjective

diarrhetic

ˌdī-ə-ˈre-tik 

adjective

Synonyms of diarrhea

• trots
• runs

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

Cyclosporiasis is a parasitic disease that causes explosive diarrhea. — CNN Money, 28 July 2026

Soap and water keep you safe, though, so if someone around you is vomiting or has diarrhea, Griffin says, head for the sink. — Angela Haupt, Time, 27 July 2026

Symptoms such as watery diarrhea, loss of appetite and weight loss can start within two days or two weeks after eating food or drinking water that has the parasite cyclospora, the CDC said. — Joseph Hernandez, Kansas City Star, 27 July 2026

Their main symptoms were abdominal cramps, vomiting and diarrhea. — Nathan Diller, USA Today, 27 July 2026

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

Phrases Containing diarrhea

• traveler's diarrhea

Rhymes for diarrhea

• chia
• mia
• pia
• rhea
• shia
• stria
• thea
• zia
• aliya
• aliyah
• althea
• apnoea

Kids Definition

diarrhea

noun

di·​ar·​rhea ˌdī-ə-ˈrē-ə 

: abnormally frequent and watery bowel movements

Medical Definition

diarrhea

noun

di·​ar·​rhea

variants or chiefly British diarrhoea

ˌdī-ə-ˈrē-ə 

: abnormally frequent intestinal evacuations with more or less fluid stools