enema
Americannoun
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enemas,
plural
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enemata
plural
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the injection of a fluid into the rectum to cause a bowel movement.
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the fluid injected.
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Also called enema bag. a rubber bag or other device for administering an enema.
noun
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the introduction of liquid into the rectum to evacuate the bowels, medicate, or nourish
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the liquid so introduced
Other Word Forms
Noun Inflected Forms
Etymology
Origin of enema
First recorded in 1675–85; from Late Latin, from Greek: “injection,” from en- en- 2 + (h)e- (stem of hiénai “to send, throw”) + -ma, noun suffix
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
If that means I have to get a coffee enema, I’m getting a coffee enema.
From Los Angeles Times ● May 22, 2025
They may try to remove the impaction manually or administer a warm-water enema to flush it out.
From Washington Post ● Jan. 23, 2023
The microbiome company Rebiotix Inc. last year announced positive results from a phase 3 trial of its recurrent C. difficile treatment, a filtered stool product delivered as an enema.
From Science Magazine ● Jan. 19, 2022
Called fleets because they were fleeting, the word is also a brand name for an enema — something many people pointed out on Twitter when the feature launched.
From Seattle Times ● Jul. 14, 2021
Amid hot-water bottles and enema bags, he placed his bets.
From "Middlesex: A Novel" by Jeffrey Eugenides
In addition to using coffee enemas to treat cancer, the majority of users online report turning to them for constipation.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 8, 2026
In the 19th century, an American doctor, Russell Thatcher Trall, did the same, adding cold-water enemas.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 6, 2026
On social media, she uses the words "cancer-free" rather than "cured" - and says how she used juices and coffee enemas.
From BBC ● Jun. 23, 2025
What if an incurable condition could be managed with fresh juice and coffee enemas?
From Salon ● Feb. 7, 2025
He followed the enemas with doses of yogurt, applied to the digestive tract from both ends.
From "The Omnivore's Dilemma" by Michael Pollan
Astringent enemata to check bleeding and diarrhea, like hot water, ice water, solution of alum or nitrate of silver.
From Mother's Remedies Over One Thousand Tried and Tested Remedies from Mothers of the United States and Canada by Thomas Jefferson Ritter
The patient should be allowed to suck a little ice to allay thirst, and opiate and nutritive enemata will be found quite sufficient to keep up the strength in ordinary cases.
From A Manual of the Operations of Surgery For the Use of Senior Students, House Surgeons, and Junior Practitioners by Joseph Bell
The diary also notes that he felt weak, had a bath, or did not have a bath, notes the pulse-rate, etc., as also the effects of the daily enemata.
From The Healthy Life, Vol. V, Nos. 24-28 The Independent Health Magazine by Charles William Daniel
Of course, where the former are affected it is necessary to nourish the patient artificially, partly perhaps by nutrient enemata, but principally by means of the stomach-tube.
From A System of Practical Medicine by American Authors, Vol. I Volume 1: Pathology and General Diseases by Various
Up to the time of stopping the enemata, pieces of mucous membrane and mucus itself came away from the bowel, and the motions were very offensive.
From The Healthy Life, Vol. V, Nos. 24-28 The Independent Health Magazine by Charles William Daniel
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