defecate
Americanverb (used without object)
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to void excrement from the bowels through the anus; have a bowel movement.
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to become clear of dregs, impurities, etc.
verb (used with object)
verb
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(intr) to discharge waste from the body through the anus
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(tr) to clarify or remove impurities from (a solution, esp of sugar)
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
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defecatesimple
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defecatessimple
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have defecatedperfect
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has defecatedperfect
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am defecatingprogressive
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are defecatingprogressive
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is defecatingprogressive
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have been defecatingperfect progressive
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has been defecatingperfect progressive
Past
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defecatedsimple
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had defecatedperfect
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was defecatingprogressive
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were defecatingprogressive
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had been defecatingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of defecate
First recorded in 1565–75; from Latin dēfaecātus (past participle of dēfaecāre “to cleanse, refine”), equivalent to dē- de- + faec- (stem of faex “dregs, sediment”) + -ātus -ate 1
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.
"We've been encouraged to reduce all the time by fencing cattle away from riverbanks, so they don't tread the banks and defecate in the river," said Henry Collins, of the Wylye Valley Farmers.
From BBC • Jun. 11, 2026
Consider, then, taking in a mammal that can fell a tree, chew through wire, weighs 30 to 60 pounds full-grown, loves to wrestle, needs to swim and can only defecate in water.
From The Wall Street Journal • Nov. 7, 2025
In the cooler months of the year — historically from April to September — snakes become sluggish and may not eat, drink, defecate or even move for weeks at a time.
From New York Times • Mar. 14, 2024
Both species consume a lot of native fruits and defecate the seeds out in different areas, becoming important seed dispersers.
From Seattle Times • Feb. 12, 2023
He went first to defecate, behind a rock, though no one was watching.
From "Abel's Island" by William Steig
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.
