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
Some people may develop serious kidney problems and need to be hospitalized.
—Drake Bentley, Journal Sentinel, 23 Oct. 2024
Although most people who become ill recover without treatment within a week, others can develop serious kidney problems and require hospitalization.
—Deidre McPhillips, CNN, 23 Oct. 2024
Creatine is a chemical compound stored in your muscles and in smaller amounts in the brain, liver, kidneys, and testes.
—Merve Ceylan, Health, 23 Oct. 2024
Listeria recall expands to nearly 12 million pounds of meat, hits US schools
Ten people have been hospitalized, including a child with complications from hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS) -- a disease that affects the kidneys.
—Mary Kekatos, ABC News, 22 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for kidney 
Drake Bentley, Journal Sentinel, 23 Oct. 2024
Although most people who become ill recover without treatment within a week, others can develop serious kidney problems and require hospitalization.
—Deidre McPhillips, CNN, 23 Oct. 2024
Creatine is a chemical compound stored in your muscles and in smaller amounts in the brain, liver, kidneys, and testes.
—Merve Ceylan, Health, 23 Oct. 2024
Listeria recall expands to nearly 12 million pounds of meat, hits US schools
Ten people have been hospitalized, including a child with complications from hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS) -- a disease that affects the kidneys.
—Mary Kekatos, ABC News, 22 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for kidney
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.
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Cite this Entry
“Kidney.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/kidney. Accessed 31 Oct. 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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