digestion

noun

di·​ges·​tion dī-ˈjes-chən How to pronounce digestion (audio)
də-,
-ˈjesh-
: the action, process, or power of digesting: such as
a
: the process of making food absorbable by mechanically and enzymatically breaking it down into simpler chemical compounds in the digestive tract
b
: the process in sewage treatment by which organic matter in sludge is decomposed by anaerobic bacteria with the release of a burnable mixture of gases

Examples of digestion in a Sentence

an enzyme that aids in the digestion of protein She began to suffer from poor digestion as she grew older.
Recent Examples on the Web Some birds ingest grit—such as little stones, sand or shells—to help pulverize food, but the new species didn’t, per CNN, leaving its method of digestion a mystery. Tara Wu, Smithsonian Magazine, 12 Mar. 2024 What is blood sugar? Blood sugar, also called blood glucose, is simply the sugar in your bloodstream that comes from the food your body has broken down during digestion. Daryl Austin, USA TODAY, 12 Mar. 2024 During digestion, lactase produced in the lining of the small intestine splits lactose into smaller sugar molecules (known as glucose and galactose) for absorption. Brittany Lubeck, Ms, Rdn, Verywell Health, 7 Mar. 2024 In Protest Trump Defeats Haley In Michigan Republican Primary—On Track To Clinch Nomination Next Month ‘Shogun’ Episode 1 ‘Anjin’ Review: A Captivating Series Premiere Liquid wastes are suitable for conversion to biogas through anaerobic digestion of livestock waste and wastewater. Wood MacKenzie, Forbes, 28 Feb. 2024 Good probiotics ensure live bacteria survive digestion and can populate the gut. Tracy Achonwa, Vogue, 23 Feb. 2024 Food allergies and intolerances can also impair digestion. Steph Coelho, Health, 10 Feb. 2024 These models deliver human-like interaction to security teams, making the digestion and analysis of complex, highly technical information significantly more accessible and much quicker. Sridhar Muppidi, Fortune, 7 Feb. 2024 Additional effects are to send signals to the brain to curb appetite, and possibly slow digestion, creating a feeling of being full. Bryant Stamford, The Courier-Journal, 1 Feb. 2024

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

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined above

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

Dictionary Entries Near digestion

Cite this Entry

“Digestion.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/digestion. Accessed 29 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

digestion

noun
di·​ges·​tion dī-ˈjes-chən How to pronounce digestion (audio)
də-
: the process by which food is broken down into simpler forms in the body by mechanical and enzymatic means

Medical Definition

digestion

noun
di·​ges·​tion dī-ˈjes(h)-chən, də- How to pronounce digestion (audio)
: the action, process, or power of digesting
especially : the process of making food absorbable by mechanically and enzymatically breaking it down into simpler chemical compounds in the digestive tract
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!