noun B2 Upper-Intermediate

diarrhoea

dy-uh-REE-uh

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Diarrhoea (noun) means a condition in which someone passes unusually frequent and watery bowel movements. Example: “The doctor said the diarrhoea should clear up within a couple of days.”

noun

A condition in which someone passes unusually frequent and watery bowel movements.

"The doctor said the diarrhoea should clear up within a couple of days."

"Travellers sometimes get diarrhoea after drinking untreated water."

"She stayed off school with diarrhoea and a slight temperature."

The loose, watery stools produced during this condition.

"There was diarrhoea on the nursery floor that needed cleaning up."

"The vet asked whether the dog's diarrhoea had any blood in it."

How to use diarrhoea

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishDiarrhoea describes having runny, frequent bowel movements, or the loose stools themselves.

When to use it

Diarrhoea is the standard British spelling; diarrhea is the American form of the same word.

Memory tip

The tricky part is the spelling, not the meaning — remember the pattern rrh, which also turns up in words like haemorrhage.

Trace the full origin ↓

Common pairings

a bout of diarrhoea diarrhoea and vomiting severe diarrhoea chronic diarrhoea

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C2 · Advanced serendipity Fortunate discoveries made entirely by accident.

Gen Z slang rizz Charm — the ability to attract a romantic interest.

B2 · Intermediate empathy The capacity to share another person’s feelings.

C1 · Advanced nonchalant Casually calm and relaxed; unconcerned.

Internet slang delulu Delusional — believing something against the odds.

Etymology nostalgia Greek nostos “return home” + algos “pain”.

C2 · Advanced serendipity Fortunate discoveries made entirely by accident.

Gen Z slang rizz Charm — the ability to attract a romantic interest.

B2 · Intermediate empathy The capacity to share another person’s feelings.

C1 · Advanced nonchalant Casually calm and relaxed; unconcerned.

Internet slang delulu Delusional — believing something against the odds.

Etymology nostalgia Greek nostos “return home” + algos “pain”.

Test yourself on “diarrhoea” A quick quiz — meaning, synonyms & usage →

Fill the gap

Can you complete this real example?

The doctor said the _____ should clear up within a couple of days.

Etymology

Diarrhoea traces back through Middle French and Late Latin to Ancient Greek, where it was built from a word for 'through' joined to a word for 'flow', giving the sense of something flowing straight through the body. The spelling was later reshaped to look more like its Latin and Greek ancestors.

Origin: Latin

Synonyms

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the runs the trots

Antonyms

constipation

Related words

runs impairment diarrhea constipation stultification constipated irregularity deadening

Rhymes for diarrhoea

ea sea tea pea yea lea Bea DEA hea Rea urea plea

See all rhymes for diarrhoea →

Frequently asked questions

What is diarrhoea?

It is a condition in which bowel movements become frequent, loose and watery, and the word can also refer to the loose stools themselves.

Is diarrhoea spelled differently in American English?

Yes, the American spelling is diarrhea, while diarrhoea is the standard British spelling.

What is the opposite of diarrhoea?

Constipation, where bowel movements become infrequent or difficult, is generally treated as the opposite condition.

What is the meaning of diarrhoea?

"diarrhoea" (noun) means a condition in which someone passes unusually frequent and watery bowel movements.

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runs impairment diarrhea constipation stultification constipated irregularity deadening