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

The seeds are rich in both soluble and insoluble fiber, helping to feed gut bacteria while also promoting regular bowel movements, research has shown. —Deirdre Bardolf, FOXNews.com, 27 Apr. 2026

Ulcerative colitis involves inflammation and ulceration of the colon and rectum, often leading to abdominal pain, urgent bowel movements, and diarrhea that may include blood. —Holly Carter, PEOPLE, 24 Apr. 2026

Rectal cancers are often accompanied by bright red blood on toilet paper or in the toilet bowl and a real urgency to use the bathroom even after a bowel movement. —Erika Edwards, NBC news, 23 Apr. 2026

Insoluble fiber, on the other hand, isn’t broken down by gut bacteria and instead adds bulk to stool, promoting regular bowel movements. —Jillian Kubala, Health, 23 Apr. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1870, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for bowel movement

• improvement

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