kidney

noun

kid·ney ˈkid-nē

plural kidneys

: one of a pair of vertebrate organs situated in the body cavity near the spinal column that excrete waste products of metabolism, in humans are bean-shaped organs about 4¹/₂ inches (11¹/₂ centimeters) long lying behind the peritoneum in a mass of fatty tissue, and consist chiefly of nephrons by which urine is secreted, collected, and discharged into a main cavity from which it is conveyed by the ureter to the bladder

: any of various excretory organs of invertebrate animals

: the kidney of an animal eaten as food

: sort or kind especially with regard to temperament

a nice helpful guy, of a different kidney entirely from the … Secret Police—

Paula Lecler

Examples of kidney in a Sentence

a patient with a damaged kidney her new boyfriend is of a different kidney than what she usually dates

Recent Examples on the Web In April 2014, Whibley collapsed in his kitchen and was rushed by then-fiancée to the hospital, where doctors said his liver and kidneys had failed. —

Nikki Dobrin, Peoplemag, 16 Sep. 2023 Then, the woman told the board, McClure began to inject almost every part of her body, including her head, feet, legs, spine, kidneys, liver, gut, stomach and spleen. —

Emily Davies, Washington Post, 15 Sep. 2023 Medical conditions: Chronic medical conditions such as heart disease, lung disease, chronic stress, diabetes, kidney disease, cancer, celiac disease, or digestive tract conditions can all impact height. —

Maria Carter, Parents, 14 Sep. 2023 The doctors are having a hard time getting his kidneys functioning and his levels down. —

Dr. Keith Roach, oregonlive, 14 Sep. 2023 With insufficient insulin able to do its job, many people develop high blood sugar, which can lead to serious health issues including heart disease and kidney failure, as well as other complications. —

Luisa Colón, Good Housekeeping, 9 Sep. 2023 In adults, lead can cause high blood pressure and issues with the brain, kidneys and reproductive health. —

Amanda Milkovits, BostonGlobe.com, 8 Sep. 2023 Moderate and extreme heat days are on the rise Extreme heat, which causes heat stroke and damages the heart and kidneys, is just one of the ways that climate change threatens to cause illness or kill. —

Annie Gowen, Niko Kommenda and Saiyna Bashir, Anchorage Daily News, 5 Sep. 2023 NSAIDs taken during pregnancy can cause rare but serious kidney problems in fetuses and can lead to low levels of amniotic fluid, per Mayo Clinic. —

Daryl Austin, USA TODAY, 3 Sep. 2023 See More

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'kidney.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Middle English

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler

The first known use of kidney was in the 14th century

See more words from the same century

Cite this Entry

Style

“Kidney.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/kidney. Accessed 21 Sep. 2023.

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Kids Definition

kidney

noun

kid·ney ˈkid-nē

plural kidneys

: either of a pair of oval to bean-shaped organs located in the back part of the abdomen near the spine that give off waste products in the form of urine

: an organ of an invertebrate animal that gives off waste

Medical Definition

kidney

noun

kid·ney ˈkid-nē

plural kidneys

: one of a pair of vertebrate organs situated in the body cavity near the spinal column that excrete waste products of metabolism, in humans are bean-shaped organs about 4¹/₂ inches (11¹/₂ centimeters) long lying behind the peritoneum in a mass of fatty tissue, and consist chiefly of nephrons by which urine is secreted, collected, and discharged into the renal pelvis whence it is conveyed by the ureter to the bladder compare mesonephros, metanephros, pronephros

: any of various excretory organs of invertebrate animals