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

Psyllium husk can improve gut health by encouraging regular bowel movements and helping with digestion.4 Fiber intake recommendations range from 19-38 grams daily, depending on gender and age. —Chelsea Rae Bourgeois, Rdn, Health, 10 Feb. 2025

Your menstrual cycle can lead to symptoms like bloating, cramping, and changes in your bowel movements. —Chantelle Lee, TIME, 15 Jan. 2025

Constipation is characterized by difficulty passing bowel movements. —Mark Gurarie, Verywell Health, 23 Jan. 2025

In fact, juicing fruits and vegetables removes their fiber, which feeds your beneficial gut microbes and regulates bowel movements. —Alice Callahan, New York Times, 22 Jan. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1870, in the meaning defined above

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