colorectal

American

[koh-luh-rek-tl] / ˌkoʊ ləˈrɛk tl /

adjective

Anatomy.

pertaining to or involving the colon and rectum.

colorectal cancer.

colorectal British

/ ˌkəʊləʊˈrɛktəl /

adjective

of or relating to the colon and rectum

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of colorectal

colo- + rectal

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.

Beyond daraxonrasib, it possesses a pipeline of mutation-specific programs in lung and colorectal cancer, and combination trials already under way that could extend the franchise for years.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 28, 2026

But RAS mutations drive tumors in other cancers like lung and colorectal too, and RevMed is already generating promising early data in those indications.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 28, 2026

We investigated how gut bacteria may contribute to the development of colorectal cancer.

From Science Daily • Apr. 22, 2026

In patients who later developed colorectal cancer, Bacteroides fragilis was much more likely to carry a specific bacteriophage, a virus that infects bacteria.

From Science Daily • Apr. 22, 2026

In the longer term, it may become possible to test for these viruses in stool samples to assess the risk of colorectal cancer and potentially improve prevention and treatment.

From Science Daily • Apr. 22, 2026

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023