ureter

noun

ure·​ter ˈyu̇r-ə-tər  yu̇-ˈrē-tər 

: either of the paired ducts that carry away the urine from a kidney to the bladder or cloaca

ureteral

yu̇-ˈrē-tə-rəl 

adjective

or less commonly ureteric

ˌyu̇r-ə-ˈter-ik 

Examples of ureter in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

This includes the lower UTIs, which affect the bladder and ureter, such as cystitis (bladder infection) and urethritis (urethral infection). —Mark Gurarie, Health, 13 Sep. 2025

In advanced cases, some patients may experience urinary obstruction with blockage of the ureter, which connects the kidney to the bladder. —Melissa Rudy, FOXNews.com, 29 July 2025

Urine travels from the kidneys through muscular tubes called ureters to the bladder. —Stephanie Brown, Verywell Health, 4 July 2025

The tumor blocked my ureter, the tube that connects the kidney to the bladder. —Lucy Notarantonio, MSNBC Newsweek, 14 June 2025

Word History

Etymology

New Latin, from Greek ourētēr, from ourein to urinate — more at urine

First Known Use

1543, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for ureter

• aliter
• ammeter
• completer
• demeter
• preheater
• repeater
• saltpetre
• amphitheater
• centimeter
• centimetre
• decimeter
• ergometer

Kids Definition

ureter

noun

ure·​ter ˈyu̇r-ət-ər 

: a tube that carries urine from a kidney to the bladder or cloaca

Medical Definition

ureter

noun

ure·​ter ˈyu̇r-ət-ər  yu̇-ˈrēt-ər 

: either of the paired ducts that carry away urine from a kidney to the bladder or cloaca and that in humans are slender membranous epithelium-lined flat tubes about sixteen inches (41 centimeters) long which open above into the pelvis of a kidney and below into the back part of the same side of the bladder at a very oblique angle