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rectal

American  
[rek-tl] / ˈrɛk tl /

adjective

  1. of, relating to, or for the rectum.


rectal British  
/ ˈrɛktəl /

adjective

  1. of or relating to the rectum

"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

Etymology

Origin of rectal

First recorded in 1870–75; rect(um) + -al 1

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:

That means people under the age of 45 who are being diagnosed with colon cancer are doing so only when they present with symptoms like rectal bleeding or extreme weight loss.

From MarketWatch Jun. 4, 2026

The condition involves swollen veins in the anal or rectal area, which can lead to pain and bleeding.

From Science Daily Mar. 7, 2026

The actress's death certificate said she had died of a pulmonary embolism and listed rectal cancer as a secondary factor.

From Barron's Feb. 9, 2026

By 2014, its five-year survival rate for rectal cancer had risen to 69%, close to Australia's.

From BBC Sep. 11, 2025

I can bear testimony to the good results which sometimes follow large rectal injections of warm or cold water, the latter being preferable when there is high fever.

From A System of Practical Medicine by American Authors, Vol. I Volume 1: Pathology and General Diseases by Various

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