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

Crohn’s Disease affects the entire digestive system, and symptoms may include diarrhea, abdominal pain, and weight loss, as well as malnutrition and mouth sores. —Lindy Segal, PEOPLE, 24 Apr. 2026

Why Arugula May Help Digestion The idea centers on how bitter foods interact with your digestive system. —Kathleen Ferraro, Verywell Health, 24 Apr. 2026

Critically, each feeding polyp sends its food to a common digestive system, so the entire colony feeds as one unified organism. —Samantha Agate, Charlotte Observer, 23 Apr. 2026

Those feeding polyps have tentacles and stinging cells that trap plankton, then send food to a common digestive system so the entire colony feeds as one. —Samantha Agate, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 23 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