plural kidneys
1
a
: 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
b
: any of various excretory organs of invertebrate animals
2
: the kidney of an animal eaten as food
3
: sort or kind especially with regard to temperament
a nice helpful guy, of a different kidney entirely from the … Secret Police—
Paula Lecler
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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
Other studies conducted by Lilly show that the drug can also reduce the progression of heart failure and kidney disease.
—Alice Park, TIME, 20 Dec. 2024
Death rates from diabetes, kidney disease and chronic liver disease decreased more than 5%, while decreases for cancer, stroke, chronic lower respiratory diseases and Alzheimer’s disease were smaller.
—Deidre McPhillips, CNN, 19 Dec. 2024
Heart disease remained the leading cause of death, followed by cancer, accidents, stroke, respiratory disease, Alzheimer's, diabetes, kidney disease, liver disease and COVID-19, according to the CDC's provisional data.
—Ken Alltucker, USA TODAY, 19 Dec. 2024
Later, when fat tissues are all broken down, the body obtains protein for energy by breaking down muscles and internal organs, namely the liver and intestines, followed by the heart and kidneys.
—Colleen Doherty, Verywell Health, 18 Dec. 2024
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Alice Park, TIME, 20 Dec. 2024
Death rates from diabetes, kidney disease and chronic liver disease decreased more than 5%, while decreases for cancer, stroke, chronic lower respiratory diseases and Alzheimer’s disease were smaller.
—Deidre McPhillips, CNN, 19 Dec. 2024
Heart disease remained the leading cause of death, followed by cancer, accidents, stroke, respiratory disease, Alzheimer's, diabetes, kidney disease, liver disease and COVID-19, according to the CDC's provisional data.
—Ken Alltucker, USA TODAY, 19 Dec. 2024
Later, when fat tissues are all broken down, the body obtains protein for energy by breaking down muscles and internal organs, namely the liver and intestines, followed by the heart and kidneys.
—Colleen Doherty, Verywell Health, 18 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for kidney
Articles Related to kidney
Dictionary Entries Near kidney
Cite this Entry
“Kidney.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/kidney. Accessed 25 Dec. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
kidney
noun
kid·ney
ˈkid-nē 
plural kidneys
1
: 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
2
: an organ of an invertebrate animal that gives off waste
Medical Definition
kidney
noun
kid·ney
ˈkid-nē
plural kidneys
1
: 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
2
: any of various excretory organs of invertebrate animals
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