digestive tract

noun

: the tubular passage typically extending from the mouth to the anus or cloaca that functions in digestion and absorption of food and elimination of residual waste and that in most mammals includes the mouth, pharynx, esophagus, stomach, intestine, and anus

called also alimentary canal, alimentary tract

Examples of digestive tract in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Healthy cells that divide frequently—such as those in the bone marrow, digestive tract, and hair follicles—can also be affected, leading to side effects such as nausea, vomiting, fatigue, immunosuppression, and hair loss. —Encyclopedia Britannica, 8 May 2026

The cooking process eliminates harmful bacteria, and the digestive tract itself isn't dangerous. —Katie Rosenhouse, Southern Living, 8 May 2026

Canned Beans Beans are heart-healthy legumes rich in soluble fiber, which binds to cholesterol in the digestive tract and helps to flush it out of the body. —Carrie Madormo, Verywell Health, 8 May 2026

On Tuesday, trial investigators presented the results of a study that tested how well combining the drugs Tremfya and Simponi would stop the immune system from mistakenly attacking healthy tissues in the digestive tract. —Ed Silverman, STAT, 5 May 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1842, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for digestive tract

• abstract
• attacked
• attract
• contact
• contract
• detract
• distract
• enact
• exact
• extract
• hijacked
• impact

Medical Definition

digestive tract

noun

: the tubular passage typically extending from mouth to anus or cloaca that functions in digestion and absorption of food and elimination of residual waste and that in most mammals includes the mouth, pharynx, esophagus, stomach, intestine, and anus

called also alimentary canal, alimentary tract