orifice

noun

or·​i·​fice ˈȯr-ə-fəs 

ˈär-

: an opening (such as a vent, mouth, or hole) through which something may pass

an anatomical orifice

the nozzle orifice

the cone built up from the cinders around the eruption orifice

—R. H. Mohlenbrock

orificial

ˌȯr-ə-ˈfi-shəl 

ˌär-

adjective

Synonyms

• aperture
• hole

Examples of orifice in a Sentence

the mouth is a bodily orifice

Recent Examples on the Web

The hospital was the first Belgian hospital to introduce the single port Da Vinci robot, enabling complex procedures through a single incision or natural orifice. —Christophe Mouton, MSNBC Newsweek, 8 Oct. 2025

In fish, the cloaca is a single orifice that handles excretion (both urine and fecal material) as well as reproduction. —John Timmer, ArsTechnica, 17 Sep. 2025

Flies find a dead body very quickly and lay their eggs in a natural orifice, such as an eye, or in a wound. —Avery Hurt, Discover Magazine, 1 Aug. 2025

One spring, or manantial, is fed by groundwater that flows from a small orifice in the rock to create the larger pool. —Miami Herald, 11 July 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Middle French & Late Latin; Middle French, from Late Latin orificium, from Latin or-, os mouth + facere to make, do — more at oral, do

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

orifice

noun

or·​i·​fice ˈȯr-ə-fəs 

ˈär-

: an opening (as a mouth or hole) through which something may pass

Medical Definition

orifice

noun

or·​i·​fice ˈȯr-ə-fəs, ˈär- 

: an opening through which something may pass

orificial

ˌȯr-ə-ˈfish-əl, ˌär- 

adjective