defecation

noun

def·​e·​ca·​tion ˌde-fi-ˈkā-shən 

1

: the discharge of solid waste from the anus : the act or process of defecating

To meet the clinical definition of IBS [irritable bowel syndrome], you must have had 12 weeks … of abdominal pain or discomfort within the past year, associated with relief with defecation and a change in the form or frequency of stool.

—Food and Fitness Advisor

2

: feces, excrement

At first it was believable because, as Gov. Mario Cuomo said at the outset, "She's covered with defecation, her hair is shorn … "

—Ellen Goodman

William Allen Livingston lost several ounces of urine and defecation when the fusillade of .38 caliber and .00 buckshot devastated him …

—Joseph Wambaugh

Examples of defecation in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The SDGs include a call for universal access to safe water, sanitation, hygiene and the elimination of open defecation by 2030. —Maryanne Murray Buechner, Forbes.com, 27 Aug. 2025

While there is no official count on matters like the numbers of tent cities or public defecation, data from the National Alliance to End Homelessness shows that in 2023, there were about 181,000 people living homeless in California, compared to just under 31,000 in Florida. —Andrew Stanton, MSNBC Newsweek, 26 Aug. 2025

Other offenses cited include narcotics violations, drinking alcohol in public, urination and defecation and outstanding warrants, the agency added. —Mathew Miranda, Sacbee.com, 25 July 2025

Just look away during all the vomit and defecation gags. —Kelly Lawler, USA Today, 12 June 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1825, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for defecation

• abdication
• aberration
• abjuration
• abnegation
• abrogation
• acceptation
• acclamation
• acclimation
• accusation
• activation
• actuation
• acylation

Medical Definition

defecation

noun

def·​e·​ca·​tion

variants or chiefly British defaecation

ˌdef-i-ˈkā-shən 

: discharge of feces