laxative
Americannoun
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laxatives
plural
adjective
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of, relating to, or constituting a laxative; purgative.
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Archaic.
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(of the bowels) subject to looseness.
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(of a disease) characterized by looseness of the bowels.
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noun
adjective
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Etymology
Origin of laxative
1350–1400; Middle English laxatif (< Middle French ) < Medieval Latin laxātīvus loosening ( see laxation, -ive)
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:
Participants were encouraged to drink at least two liters of calorie-free fluids each day and were given access to a fiber-based laxative when needed.
From Science Daily ● Oct. 30, 2026
The crucial mineral is magnesium, which has a laxative effect.
From BBC ● Oct. 13, 2025
Escolar is sometimes called the "laxative of the sea" for the effects its fatty acids can have on digestion.
From Salon ● Oct. 29, 2024
He quickly noticed the laxative effect for which Epsom salts would become world-famous, drawing hordes of stopped-up tourists to the town for decades to come.
From Los Angeles Times ● Mar. 6, 2024
He laughed and told my mother that I needed a laxative and I would be fine.
From "Bad Boy" by Walter Dean Myers
Overall, the findings indicate that certain laxatives may help slow the progression of kidney deterioration.
From Science Daily ● Dec. 3, 2025
Ms Nicklas, who works in north Wales, said before her surgery she was "taking laxatives like they were smarties" but "still struggling to go to the toilet".
From BBC ● May 11, 2025
All that being said, people with limited kidney function should avoid extra magnesium, especially in dietary supplements or laxatives.
From Seattle Times ● Feb. 21, 2024
“The main effect of laxatives really is in the colon,” he says.
From Scientific American ● Nov. 1, 2023
After my umpteenth trip to the latrine, I figured most of her elixirs are laxatives, but so far I’m holding up better than most.
From "Moon Over Manifest" by Clare Vanderpool
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