Synonyms

diarrhoea

British

/ ˌdaɪəˈrɪə /

noun

frequent and copious discharge of abnormally liquid faeces

"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

Other Word Forms

diarrhoeal adjective

Etymology

Origin of diarrhoea

C16: from Late Latin, from Greek diarrhoia, from diarrhein to flow through, from _dia- + rhein to flow

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.

Cryptosporidiosis can cause severe diarrhoea, vomiting, fever, and stomach cramps and can be particularly serious for young children and vulnerable groups.

From BBC • Mar. 24, 2026

Eating foods that contain gluten can trigger a range of gut symptoms, such as diarrhoea, stomach aches, sloating and flatulence, indigestion and constipation.

From BBC • Mar. 22, 2026

"Taking a few simple precautions against traveller's diarrhoea and food poisoning can make all the difference," Dr Gauri Godbole, the UKHSA's deputy director for gastrointestinal infections and food safety, said.

From BBC • Feb. 5, 2026

More than 600,000 cases of cholera or acute watery diarrhoea and nearly 7,600 deaths were reported to the WHO from 33 countries last year, though the true numbers will be higher.

From Barron's • Feb. 4, 2026

They were used now to stomach-aches and a sort of chronic diarrhoea.

From "Lord of the Flies" by William Golding

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