roughage

noun

rough·​age ˈrə-fij 

: mostly indigestible material in food (such as legumes, whole grains, and vegetables) that promotes elimination of waste from the large intestine : fiber sense 1d

Knowing where to get dietary fiber is important because strong evidence now links roughage to good health, weight management and a reduced risk of colon cancer and other major diseases.

—Elizabeth Somer

also : food containing much indigestible material acting as fiber

That's okay, though: Junk food has a place in a moviegoing diet, as long as you make room for roughage elsewhere.

—Ty Burr

Examples of roughage in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

However, not all game shows are winners, and there’s a lot of reality TV roughage to dig through in pursuit of a few diamonds. —Chris Snellgrove, EW.com, 3 Feb. 2024

Additionally, McGowan said people should avoid fruits and vegetables with significant roughage — the indigestible portion of food. —Vanessa Etienne, Peoplemag, 24 Aug. 2023

There’s enough roughage to skip a salad altogether, and the cream and parm keep the sauce from feeling too vegetal. —The Bon Appétit Staff & Contributors, Bon Appétit, 4 Aug. 2023

To test what these plastics do to our bodies once they’re consumed, the team bathed human embryonic kidney cells in the plastic roughage shed by the baby-food containers. —WIRED, 31 July 2023

Word History

First Known Use

1911, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

roughage

noun

rough·​age ˈrəf-ij 

: fiber sense 1f

Medical Definition

roughage

noun

rough·​age ˈrəf-ij 

: fiber sense 2

also : food (as bran) containing much indigestible material acting as fiber