digestive system

noun

: the bodily system concerned with the ingestion, digestion, and absorption of food and the discharge of residual wastes and consisting of the digestive tract and accessory glands (such as the salivary glands and the pancreas) that secrete digestive enzymes

Examples of digestive system in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Prebiotics serve as food for probiotics in the digestive system, which ferment them. —Amber J. Tresca, Verywell Health, 4 Apr. 2026

The mother allegedly also asked for hospice services and total parenteral nutrition, which is delivered intravenously and bypasses the digestive system. —Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 3 Apr. 2026

What does a gastroenterologist, a doctor who specializes in the gut and digestive system, eat on the regular? —Sara Moniuszko, USA Today, 2 Apr. 2026

Eating smaller, more frequent meals may put less strain on the digestive system. —Brian Mastroianni, Health, 2 Apr. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1790, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for digestive system

• cryptosystem
• ecosystem
• intersystem
• multisystem
• photosystem
• subsystem

Kids Definition

digestive system

noun

: the bodily system concerned with the intake, breakdown, and absorption of food and the discharge of wastes and that includes the mouth, pharynx, esophagus, stomach, intestine, anus, and glands (as the salivary glands)

Medical Definition

digestive system

noun

: the bodily system concerned with the ingestion, digestion, and absorption of food and the discharge of residual wastes and consisting of the digestive tract and accessory glands (such as the salivary glands and the pancreas) that secrete digestive enzymes

called also alimentary system