Meaning & use

defecate

verb·Academic

To discharge solid waste from the body through the bowels.

See it in a sentence

The zoo posted a sign explaining why elephants defecate so frequently each day.

Puppies often need to defecate shortly after eating or waking up.

A note on using this word

Defecate is the clinical, neutral term used in medical and biological contexts; poop and go to the bathroom are more casual alternatives.

Words with a similar meaning

Choose a synonym to suit the sentence. Meanings can overlap without being identical.

Make it your own

Write a sentence using “defecate”, then compare your use with the examples above.

Your draft stays on this page and is not sent anywhere.