ingestion

noun

in·​ges·​tion in-ˈjes-chən 

-ˈjesh-

: the act or process of taking in something for or as if for digestion : the act or process of ingesting something

A Cochrane review showed that ingestion of cranberry products may decrease the number of symptomatic urinary tract infections in women …

—Giovanni Montini et al.

Celiac disease is the immune-mediated response to ingestion of gluten from wheat, rye and barley that damages the small intestine.

—Valerie Putnam

After two years of almost manic ingestion of book after book—Montaigne, Milton, Seneca, Dante—he began to write Moby-Dick.

—Andrew Delbanco

Examples of ingestion in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Recent emergencies have included animals falling off a boat, lacerations from dog fights on the beach, clamshell ingestion, sand impaction, which can cause obstructions in the digestive system, and of course Lyme disease. — Sylvie Bigar, Forbes.com, 30 June 2026

This is because insulin secretion is minimal to absent after protein ingestion in this population. — Brittany Lubeck, Verywell Health, 25 June 2026

Always ensure that the traps are placed out of reach of children and pets to prevent accidental ingestion or interference, which could lead to harm or render the trap ineffective. — Madeline Buiano, Martha Stewart, 17 June 2026

The ingestion of substances was just astronomical. — Los Angeles Times, 5 June 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1620, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for ingestion

• congestion
• digestion
• suggestion
• gestion
• question
• indigestion

Medical Definition

ingestion

noun

in·​ges·​tion in-ˈjes(h)-chən 

: the taking of material (as food) into the digestive system