excreta

plural noun

ex·​cre·​ta ik-ˈskrē-tə How to pronounce excreta (audio)
: waste matter (such as feces) eliminated or separated from the body
excretal adjective

Examples of excreta in a Sentence

the cage badly needed to be cleaned of the rabbit's excreta
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The excreta of spiders Annals of the Entomological Society of America. Jake Parks, Discover Magazine, 14 Oct. 2024 Usually the sooty mold fungus feeds on the excreta of the insects and plant sap to also produce a black coating. Tom MacCubbin, Orlando Sentinel, 13 July 2024 This does not leave much available area for the porcupine to move around, let alone use the bathroom multiple times and still be able to avoid his excreta. Ella Gonzales, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 22 Feb. 2024 The doctor’s diagnosis and prognosis relied on reading these excreta in addition to sensing subtle changes in the pulse. Meg Leja, Smithsonian Magazine, 10 Nov. 2023 Outbreaks are sporadic and previous infections in South Asia have occurred when people drank date-palm sap contaminated with bat excreta. Reuters, NBC News, 14 Sep. 2023 Whale excreta may stimulate phytoplankton growth and capture atmospheric CO2; such indirect pathways represent the greatest potential for whale-carbon sequestration but are poorly understood. James Freeman, WSJ, 20 Dec. 2022 Monster is living in a year or more of his own excreta, nearly a foot deep. Gene Weingarten, Washington Post, 8 Nov. 2021 In this particular case, the Inspiration4 crew, however, did not notice any excreta floating around the cabin because the leakage was still relegated to contained areas underneath the floor, Gerstenmaier said. Jackie Wattles, CNN, 26 Oct. 2021

Word History

Etymology

New Latin, from Latin, neuter plural of excretus

First Known Use

1757, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of excreta was in 1757

Dictionary Entries Near excreta

Cite this Entry

“Excreta.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/excreta. Accessed 21 Nov. 2024.

Kids Definition

excreta

plural noun
ex·​cre·​ta ek-ˈskrēt-ə How to pronounce excreta (audio)
: waste matter eliminated or separated from the body

Medical Definition

excreta

noun plural
ex·​cre·​ta ik-ˈskrēt-ə How to pronounce excreta (audio)
: waste matter (as feces) eliminated or separated from the body compare excretion sense 2
excretal adjective
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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