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

Transdermal patches are a drug delivery system that allows medicine and ingredients to be absorbed straight into the bloodstream, bypassing the digestive system. —Helena Kudiabor, SELF, 13 Mar. 2026

Getting enough fiber helps keep your digestive system balanced, whether that means needing to process foods better or slowing down the overprocessing of foods. —Isabel Vasquez Rd Ldn, Health, 10 Mar. 2026

Preterm and low-birth-weight babies are at higher risk than full-term babies of developing NEC, potentially because of their immature digestive systems, according to the National Institutes of Health. —Lisa Schencker, Chicago Tribune, 10 Mar. 2026

Castor Oil Castor oil irritates the digestive system of the moles and makes the soil less inviting to them. —Nadia Hassani, The Spruce, 7 Mar. 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