digestive system

American  

noun

digestive systems plural

1. the system by which ingested food is acted upon by physical and chemical means to provide the body with absorbable nutrients and to excrete waste products; in mammals the system includes the alimentary canal extending from the mouth to the anus, and the hormones and enzymes assisting in digestion.

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digestive system Scientific  

/ dī-jĕs′tĭv /

1. The alimentary canal together with the salivary glands, liver, pancreas, and other organs of digestion.

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digestive system Cultural  

1. The organs and glands in the body that are responsible for digestion. The digestive system begins with the mouth and extends through the esophagus, stomach, small intestine, and large intestine, ending with the rectum and anus. Other organs in this system include the liver, pancreas, gallbladder, and appendix.

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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• digestive systems
  plural

Etymology

Origin of digestive system

First recorded in 1950–55

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

digestive system

In the human digestive system, sweeteners may be absorbed, chemically altered, diluted, or broken down before reaching particular microbes.

From Science Daily ● Jul. 17, 2026

When Howard was seven years old, he was diagnosed with cystic fibrosis, the genetic condition that causes sticky mucus to build up in the lungs and digestive system.

From BBC ● Jul. 14, 2026

Prebiotic fiber, from sources like legumes, fortifies the good bacteria in your digestive system and, in turn, benefits your metabolism and immune system.

From MarketWatch ● May 10, 2026

“My immune system and digestive system got all out of whack over the past couple of three years,” she said.

From Los Angeles Times ● May 4, 2026

It was clear to the doctors that Ernest’s chronic colitis had severely compromised his digestive system.

From "Big Science" by Michael Hiltzik