defecation

American  

[def-i-key-shuhn] / ˌdɛf ɪˈkeɪ ʃən /

noun

1. an act or instance of voiding excrement from the bowels; bowel movement.

   For best results, the stool sample should be tested within half an hour of defecation.

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Etymology

Origin of defecation

First recorded in 1620–30, for an earlier sense; from Latin dēfaecātiōn-, stem of dēfaecātiō “a cleansing,” from dēfaecāre “to cleanse, refine”; see defecate ( def. ), -ion ( def. )

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

defecation

There are always tales of rampant public defecation and they can't stop talking about it.

From Salon ● Dec. 1, 2023

Of the people we interviewed, 70% reported using a public restroom — if one is available — and 44% reported practicing open defecation because no restroom is nearby when they need one.

From Los Angeles Times ● May 8, 2023

Instead they have a single orifice called a cloaca that is used for defecation as well as reproduction in both males and females.

From Scientific American ● Feb. 16, 2023

In 2019, Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced that 100% of India's villages had declared themselves free of open defecation after a massive toilet-building programme by his government.

From BBC ● Feb. 12, 2023

Even defecation is ruled by African gods, who command that we use only the bushes that Tata Kuvudundu has sanctified for those purposes—and believe you me, he chooses bushes far away from the drinking water.

From "The Poisonwood Bible" by Barbara Kingsolver