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

Defecation was included on signs after residents raised concerns.

From BBC • Aug. 8, 2017

Defecation is the final act of digestion, by which organisms eliminate solid,...

From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 25, 2017

You should either do the Tai Chi Upright Defecation pose or lie on your stomach doing radical Supermans every three minutes.

From The Guardian • Nov. 1, 2015

Defecation is as culture-laden as other behaviours, so the designs must also be socially sustainable — tailored to local customs and strictures, whether in Malawi or Manhattan.

From Nature • Jun. 13, 2012

Defecation is something else that Six feels cinema has underplayed.

From The Guardian • Aug. 19, 2010