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

This step helps with proper nutrient absorption later in your digestive tract. —Brandi Jones, Verywell Health, 7 July 2025

In your digestive tract, the colon’s lining turns over every five to seven days. —Lauren Leffer, Popular Science, 3 July 2025

For even short periods of ingestion, microplastics accrue in the digestive tract, primarily the cecum which is the pouch between the small intestine and colon. —Suwanna Gauntlett Upjohn, Forbes.com, 27 June 2025

This is important for toilet time, since fiber can help soften and bulk up your stool, speeding up its progress through your digestive tract. —Caroline Tien, SELF, 24 June 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