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

Symptoms include nausea and explosive diarrhea for up to two weeks. — Kayla Moeller, CBS News, 14 July 2026

Lettuce or salad greens could be the source of Michigan’s outbreak of cyclosporiasis, an infection characterized by intense diarrhea, state health officials said Monday. — Dennis Romero, NBC news, 13 July 2026

Cyclosporiasis can cause a variety of symptoms, most commonly watery diarrhea, which usually begin within a week after someone has become infected, according to the CDC. — Kelly McCarthy, ABC News, 13 July 2026

Watch for thick ropey drool, bright red gums and tongue, weakness or wobbling, a rapid heart rate and vomiting or diarrhea. — Ryan Brennan, Miami Herald, 13 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