constipation
Americannoun
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constipations
plural
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a condition of the bowels in which the feces are dry and hardened and evacuation is difficult and infrequent.
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Informal. a state of slowing down, sluggishness, or inactivity.
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Obsolete. the act of crowding anything into a smaller compass; condensation.
noun
Other Word Forms
Noun Inflected Forms
Etymology
Origin of constipation
First recorded in 1375–1425; late Middle English constipacioun, from Middle French, from Late Latin constīpātiōn-, stem of constīpātiō; equivalent to constipate + -ion
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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.
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What appears to be appendicitis turns out to be severe constipation, a public announcement I’m sure his schoolmates will handle with grace and maturity.
From Salon ● Aug. 23, 2026
It features a snowmobile adventure and a trip to the ER for their son Patrick, who was diagnosed with severe constipation.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 21, 2026
And, like any medication, there can be side effects to using Foundayo, including nausea, diarrhoea, constipation and vomiting.
From BBC ● Aug. 10, 2026
In people with constipation-predominant IBS, or in healthy individuals, further slowing intestinal movement could make constipation or related symptoms worse.
From Science Daily ● Jul. 30, 2026
"Sho, and they raised the devil about the youth members going into the subways and sticking 'em up in place of them constipation ads and things—but do you know what they doing now?"
From "Invisible Man" by Ralph Ellison
I had no idea about things like the severe constipations, the bleeding gums or that my lasered moustache would come back.
From The Guardian ● Jun. 9, 2016
I had no idea about things like the severe constipations, the bleeding gums or that my lasered moustache would come back You’re the first comedian to make a special while pregnant.
From The Guardian ● Jun. 9, 2016
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
