diarrhea
deye-uh-REE-uh
Diarrhea (noun) means a digestive condition causing frequent, loose, watery bowel movements. Example: “He came down with diarrhea after eating the undercooked chicken.”
noun
1
A digestive condition causing frequent, loose, watery bowel movements.
"Why was she covered in diarrhea?"
— L. A. Knight, Dog Training the American Male (2014)
"I looked and saw that she and her hammock were covered in diarrhea."
— Daniel Everett, Don't Sleep (2009)
"He came down with diarrhea after eating the undercooked chicken."
"The medicine helped settle her stomach and stop the diarrhea."
"Drink plenty of water if you have diarrhea, so you do not become dehydrated."
How to use diarrhea
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishAn upset stomach that causes frequent, watery bowel movements.
UK vs US
American English spells it "diarrhea"; British English spells it "diarrhoea."
Easily confused with
Vocabulary Flow
Build your vocabulary from words like diarrhea.
Vocabulary Flow serves the next word, and the next — meaning, pronunciation and an example each time. Practice at your level, or learn English in your own language.
Start vocabulary practice
Word forms
- Plural
- diarrheas
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
He came down with _____ after eating the undercooked chicken.
Etymology
From Greek diarrhoia ("through-flowing"), from dia- ("through") + rhein ("to flow").
Synonyms
View more →Related words
Rhymes for diarrhea
See all rhymes for diarrhea →Frequently asked questions
What does “diarrhea” mean?
The word “diarrhea” means a digestive condition causing frequent, loose, watery bowel movements. In plain terms, an upset stomach that causes frequent, watery bowel movements.
How do you pronounce “diarrhea”?
“Diarrhea” is pronounced deye-uh-REE-uh (/ˌdaɪ.əˈɹiː.ə/ in IPA).
How do you use “diarrhea” in a sentence?
Here is “diarrhea” used in a sentence: “He came down with diarrhea after eating the undercooked chicken.”
What is another word for “diarrhea”?
Words with a similar meaning to “diarrhea” include poop water, the runs, the squirts, the squits, the trots and the skitters.
What part of speech is “diarrhea”?
“Diarrhea” is a noun.
Where does the word “diarrhea” come from?
The word “diarrhea” comes from Greek. From Greek diarrhoia ("through-flowing"), from dia- ("through") + rhein ("to flow").
Is “diarrhea” a common word?
“Diarrhea” is an uncommon word in modern English, usually learned at around the B2 level.
What is the difference between "diarrhea" and "dysentery"?
"Diarrhea" is a general digestive condition causing frequent, loose, watery bowel movements, and it can have many causes including infection, food intolerance, or stress. "Dysentery" is a more specific and severe form typically involving inflammation of the intestines, often with blood or mucus in the stool, and is usually caused by a specific bacterial or parasitic infection.
Is "diarrhea" a formal or informal term?
"Diarrhea" is the standard clinical and everyday term used in medical and general contexts alike, making it appropriate for both formal and informal writing. Many of its slang alternatives, such as "the runs" or "the trots," are informal and better suited to casual conversation.
How is "diarrhea" spelled correctly, and why is it often misspelled?
The standard spelling is "diarrhea" in American English and "diarrhoea" in British English, and it is frequently misspelled because of its unusual double letters and the silent-feeling combination of vowels. Paying attention to the "rrh" cluster, borrowed from Greek, helps avoid common spelling mistakes.
Featured in
Vocabulary lists that include diarrhea:
