enema
Americannoun
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enemas,
plural
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enemata
plural
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the injection of a fluid into the rectum to cause a bowel movement.
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the fluid injected.
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Also called enema bag. a rubber bag or other device for administering an enema.
noun
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the introduction of liquid into the rectum to evacuate the bowels, medicate, or nourish
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the liquid so introduced
Other Word Forms
Noun Inflected Forms
Etymology
Origin of enema
First recorded in 1675–85; from Late Latin, from Greek: “injection,” from en- en- 2 + (h)e- (stem of hiénai “to send, throw”) + -ma, noun suffix
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.
See Examples For:
If that means I have to get a coffee enema, I’m getting a coffee enema.
From Los Angeles Times ● May 22, 2025
There, they performed another enema that finally helped with the pain.
From Seattle Times ● May 23, 2023
They may try to remove the impaction manually or administer a warm-water enema to flush it out.
From Washington Post ● Jan. 23, 2023
The microbiome company Rebiotix Inc. last year announced positive results from a phase 3 trial of its recurrent C. difficile treatment, a filtered stool product delivered as an enema.
From Science Magazine ● Jan. 19, 2022
Amid hot-water bottles and enema bags, he placed his bets.
From "Middlesex: A Novel" by Jeffrey Eugenides
In addition to using coffee enemas to treat cancer, the majority of users online report turning to them for constipation.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 8, 2026
In the 19th century, an American doctor, Russell Thatcher Trall, did the same, adding cold-water enemas.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 6, 2026
On social media, she uses the words "cancer-free" rather than "cured" - and says how she used juices and coffee enemas.
From BBC ● Jun. 23, 2025
What if an incurable condition could be managed with fresh juice and coffee enemas?
From Salon ● Feb. 7, 2025
Fifty years from now that diet might seem as crazy as Kellogg’s enemas.
From "The Omnivore's Dilemma" by Michael Pollan
A regimen that is nutritive and at the same time laxative is essential and in some cases cathartics and enemata are necessary.
From Lameness of the Horse Veterinary Practitioners' Series, No. 1 by John Victor Lacroix
Bouvard, physician to Louis XIII, applied two hundred and twenty enemata to this monarch in the course of six months.
From Intestinal Ills Chronic Constipation, Indigestion, Autogenetic Poisons, Diarrhea, Piles, Etc. Also Auto-Infection, Auto-Intoxication, Anemia, Emaciation, Etc. Due to Proctitis and Colitis by Alcinous B. (Alcinous Burton) Jamison
In cases in which excision is impracticable, the sufferings of the patient may be alleviated by performing low tracheotomy, and by feeding with the stomach tube or by nutrient enemata.
From Manual of Surgery Volume Second: Extremities—Head—Neck. Sixth Edition. by Alexander Miles
If marked distress is present, morphin is given and where there is much rise of temperature, cold drinking water is offered in abundance and catharsis is enhanced by enemata.
From Lameness of the Horse Veterinary Practitioners' Series, No. 1 by John Victor Lacroix
Turpentine enemata for distention may be given according to the following formula: Mucilage of Acacia 1/2 ounce Spirits of Turpentine 10 drops This should be administered high up in the bowel.
From Mother's Remedies Over One Thousand Tried and Tested Remedies from Mothers of the United States and Canada by Thomas Jefferson Ritter
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.
