bowel movement

noun

plural bowel movements

: an act of passing usually solid waste through the rectum and anus

He had a two-day history of right lower abdominal pain … without bowel movements.

—William W. Scott, Jr. et al.

also : fecal matter expelled at one passage : stool sense 3a

Cats get infected from contact with other cats' bowel movements or by predation.

—Donald Caslow

Examples of bowel movement in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

During a May appointment, the mother reported finding bits of dog food in the child’s bowel movement. —Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 3 Apr. 2026

Days afterward, Laura told a bedside nurse her son had a bowel movement containing bits of dog food. —Amelia Mugavero, CBS News, 1 Apr. 2026

Melatonin supports gut health by reducing inflammation, strengthening the gut barrier, balancing the gut microbiome, and promoting regular bowel movements. —Lindsay Curtis, Verywell Health, 31 Mar. 2026

Most people have a bowel movement within about one to three hours of drinking prune juice, so nighttime consumption may interfere with sleep. —Sherri Gordon, Health, 31 Mar. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1870, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for bowel movement

• improvement

Kids Definition

bowel movement

noun

: an act of passing usually solid waste through the rectum and anus

also : fecal matter expelled at one passage : stool

Medical Definition

bowel movement

noun

: an act of passing usually solid waste through the rectum and anus