defecate

verb

def·​e·​cate ˈde-fi-ˌkāt 

defecated; defecating

intransitive verb

: to discharge feces from the bowels

transitive verb

1

: to discharge from the anus

2

: to free from impurity or corruption

Examples of defecate in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The suit alleged children were held in isolation — sometimes for weeks at a time — and forced to eat, sleep and defecate in their cells. —Killian Baarlaer, The Courier-Journal, 20 Dec. 2024

New details have come to light in a Louisville Metro police investigation into incidents of a man defecating on the front porch of an Old Louisville home multiple times. —Killian Baarlaer, The Courier-Journal, 6 Sep. 2024

Addressing issues around dogs defecating in public will inherently require a different solution from bites or barking, for instance, says Krithika Srinivasan, a professor of political ecology at the University of Edinburgh. —Sam Delgado, Vox, 5 Sep. 2024

The whale pump is a process that begins when whales plunge deep into the ocean to feed on krill, before returning to the surface and defecating. —Alaa Elassar, CNN, 10 Aug. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Latin defaecatus, past participle of defaecare, from de- + faec-, faex dregs, lees

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 2

Kids Definition

defecate

verb

def·​e·​cate ˈdef-i-ˌkāt 

defecated; defecating

: to expel feces from the bowels

defecation

ˌdef-i-ˈkā-shən 

noun

Medical Definition

defecate

verb

def·​e·​cate

variants or chiefly British defaecate

ˈdef-i-ˌkāt 

defecated; defecating

transitive verb

: to discharge from the anus

intransitive verb

: to discharge feces from the bowels