laxative
Americannoun
adjective
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of, relating to, or constituting a laxative; purgative.
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Archaic.
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(of the bowels) subject to looseness.
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(of a disease) characterized by looseness of the bowels.
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noun
adjective
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Etymology
Origin of laxative
1350–1400; Middle English laxatif (< Middle French ) < Medieval Latin laxātīvus loosening ( see laxation, -ive)
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.
Escolar is sometimes called the "laxative of the sea" for the effects its fatty acids can have on digestion.
From Salon • Oct. 29, 2024
He quickly noticed the laxative effect for which Epsom salts would become world-famous, drawing hordes of stopped-up tourists to the town for decades to come.
From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 6, 2024
There are also potential safety concerns - and they extend beyond the laxative effects that high consumption of polyols can produce.
From BBC • Dec. 14, 2023
Medically, PEG 3350 is mainly sold in Australia through pharmacies in laxative and stool softening products.
From Scientific American • Sep. 15, 2023
Most jockeys ingested every manner of laxative to purge their systems of food and water.
From "Seabiscuit: An American Legend" by Laura Hillenbrand
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.
