laxative
Americannoun
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laxatives
plural
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
Inflected Forms
Nouns
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.
See Examples For:
Participants were encouraged to drink at least two liters of calorie-free fluids each day and were given access to a fiber-based laxative when needed.
From Science Daily ● Oct. 30, 2026
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
Apple peels are also packed with fiber that acts as a laxative.
From Salon ● Aug. 10, 2023
I could’ve lied and told him the cafeteria burritos gave me stomach cramps, even though I’m smart enough never to eat those cheesy laxative bombs.
From "We Are the Ants" by Shaun David Hutchinson
Overall, the findings indicate that certain laxatives may help slow the progression of kidney deterioration.
From Science Daily ● Dec. 3, 2025
Zheng Minhua cited "antibiotics that cause allergies, blood pressure that won't go down, anaesthetised patients who won't sleep" and laxatives that did not clear the bowel as being among the issues that had been encountered.
From BBC ● Feb. 11, 2025
All that being said, people with limited kidney function should avoid extra magnesium, especially in dietary supplements or laxatives.
From Seattle Times ● Feb. 21, 2024
When taken at levels beyond their recommended amounts, osmotic laxatives can also affect the balance of electrolytes—they strip the body of the essentials it needs to function.
From Scientific American ● Nov. 1, 2023
After my umpteenth trip to the latrine, I figured most of her elixirs are laxatives, but so far I’m holding up better than most.
From "Moon Over Manifest" by Clare Vanderpool
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