digestive system

noun

: the bodily system concerned with the ingestion, digestion, and absorption of food and the discharge of residual wastes and consisting of the digestive tract and accessory glands (such as the salivary glands and the pancreas) that secrete digestive enzymes

Examples of digestive system in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjusting your diet can be a natural and effective way to alleviate constipation and support your digestive system. —Sarah Scott, Verywell Health, 31 Mar. 2025

Damage To Gut Health Our gut microbiome — the diverse community of bacteria in our digestive system — plays a crucial role in immunity, digestion and mental health. —Ximena Araya-Fischel, Forbes, 25 Mar. 2025

Some parrotfish species graze by biting off chunks of coral, especially from dead skeletons, and grinding it in their digestive systems, excreting it as sand. —Ana Lilia Molina Hernández, The Conversation, 26 Feb. 2025

Your digestive system contains trillions of microbes, which coexist in your gut and serve many functions. —Merve Ceylan, Health, 19 Mar. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1790, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for digestive system

• cryptosystem
• ecosystem
• intersystem
• multisystem
• photosystem
• subsystem

Kids Definition

digestive system

noun

: the bodily system concerned with the intake, breakdown, and absorption of food and the discharge of wastes and that includes the mouth, pharynx, esophagus, stomach, intestine, anus, and glands (as the salivary glands)

Medical Definition

digestive system

noun

: the bodily system concerned with the ingestion, digestion, and absorption of food and the discharge of residual wastes and consisting of the digestive tract and accessory glands (such as the salivary glands and the pancreas) that secrete digestive enzymes

called also alimentary system