bowel movement

noun

plural bowel movements

: an act of passing usually solid waste through the rectum and anus

He had a two-day history of right lower abdominal pain … without bowel movements.

—William W. Scott, Jr. et al.

also : fecal matter expelled at one passage : stool sense 3a

Cats get infected from contact with other cats' bowel movements or by predation.

—Donald Caslow

Examples of bowel movement in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

His wife Charlotte can be heard behind the camera laughing as the dad attempts to demonstrate how to encourage bowel movement. —Mark R. Weaver, Newsweek, 3 Dec. 2024

Xue also recommended getting hydrated and eating high-fiber foods such as oats and beans to produce regular bowel movements and avoid straining. —Cnn.com Wire Service, The Mercury News, 12 Nov. 2024

Eat plenty of fiber and nutritious food to promote healthy bowel movements and reduce straining, which could worsen pain. —Michelle Pugle, Verywell Health, 4 Nov. 2024

The next day, meconium — a baby’s dark, sticky first bowel movement — was detected. —Cara Lynn Shultz, People.com, 9 Dec. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1870, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

bowel movement

noun

: an act of passing usually solid waste through the rectum and anus

also : fecal matter expelled at one passage : stool

Medical Definition

bowel movement

noun

: an act of passing usually solid waste through the rectum and anus