Defecation: meaning, definitions and examples

Used in medical, scientific, or clinical settings to describe the body's process of eliminating waste from the digestive tract.

• The doctor asked about your frequency of defecation to assess your digestive health.
• Proper hydration and diet can affect the regularity of defecation.

A more common and neutral phrase used in everyday conversations to describe the act of eliminating waste from the digestive system.

• He told the nurse that he had his last bowel movement two days ago.
• Children often need help with their bowel movement habits during potty training.

Also used in a medical context, but can sound more formal or clinical. It may be used when discussing the process in a detailed or technical manner.

• The patient reported difficulty with bowel evacuation after surgery.
• Complete evacuation of the colon is necessary before the procedure.

Medical or scientific discussions about the process of expelling waste from the digestive system. It can be used in formal health contexts.

• Regular defecation is important for maintaining digestive health.
• The doctor discussed the causes of painful defecation with the patient.

Scientific or medical contexts focusing on the broader process of removing waste from the body, not limited solely to bowel movements but any biological removal of waste, such as sweating or urination.

• The study examines the excretion of metabolic waste products.
• Excretion of excess salts occurs through sweat.

A polite or general reference to the expulsion of waste from the body, often used to avoid direct mention of the more explicit term.

• Adequate hydration aids in the elimination of toxins.
• The nurse asked about his elimination habits.