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

Key Takeaways Prebiotic fiber is food for the helpful bacteria living in the digestive tract that make up the gut microbiome. —Amber J. Tresca, Verywell Health, 10 Sep. 2025

Until now, the only intervention has been antibiotics, which in turn upset the koala's delicate digestive tract – one fine-tuned to solely eat eucalyptus leaves. —New Atlas, 9 Sep. 2025

The pitcher lost 10 pounds and needed a procedure to remove a parasite doctors discovered in his digestive tract. —Dan Hayes, New York Times, 27 Aug. 2025

Yogurt can be a good source of probiotics, which are live microorganisms that influence the bacteria and other microorganisms in your digestive tract. —Jillian Kubala, Health, 25 Aug. 2025

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