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roughage

American  
[ruhf-ij] / ˈrʌf ɪdʒ /

noun

  1. rough or coarse material.

  2. any coarse, rough food for livestock.

  3. fiber.


roughage British  
/ ˈrʌfɪdʒ /

noun

  1. the coarse indigestible constituents of food or fodder, which provide bulk to the diet and promote normal bowel function See also dietary fibre

  2. any rough or coarse material

"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

Etymology

Origin of roughage

First recorded in 1880–85; rough + -age

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.

The effects of fibre were first discovered in the 1970s, when it was believed that fibre was just "hard roughage stuff" that helped our bodies get rid of waste, explains Whelan.

From BBC • Jan. 16, 2026

Raw honey in its purest form would be the honeycomb which is edible and filled with natural vitamin A and also is a source of roughage.

From Salon • Jun. 3, 2023

They eat a lot of plant material and roughage.

From Textbooks • Jun. 9, 2022

His diet includes mostly carbohydrates, "nightshade" vegetables, MSG, and coffee, for legumes, whole grains, roughage, and a small percent of lean meat.

From Fox News • Jan. 27, 2021

It is on this roughage or waste material that intestinal movement or peristalsis depends.

From Health Through Will Power by Walsh, James J. (James Joseph)