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

Infected animals can show clinical signs, including fever, diarrhea and reduced milk production, according to the World Organization for Animal Health. — Deidre McPhillips, CNN Money, 23 Oct. 2026

Associated symptoms include acute diarrhea, vomiting, stomach pain and fever up to seven days. — Devika Rao, TheWeek, 23 Oct. 2026

People who have been infected with salmonella may experience diarrhea, fever and stomach cramps, usually six hours to six days after swallowing the bacteria, health officials said. — Victoria Craw, Washington Post, 22 Oct. 2026

The most common symptoms for norovirus are nausea, vomiting, stomach pain and diarrhea. — ABC News, 22 Oct. 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