# digestive

/daɪˈdʒɛstɪv/ (US) · /daɪdʒˈɛstɪv/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/digestive
Updated: 2026-08-08

## Senses

### 1. relating to digestion

adjective · CEFR B2 · Technical

relating to the process of breaking down food in your body.

For teachers: relating to or functioning in the physiological process of digestion.

- The doctor asked if I had any digestive problems after eating spicy food.
- The digestive system involves a complex series of chemical and mechanical processes that convert food into absorbable nutrients.

Usage: Commonly used in the compound noun 'digestive system'.

### 2. a type of biscuit

noun · CEFR B2 · British English

a round, slightly sweet biscuit that is often eaten with tea.

For teachers: a semi-sweet biscuit made from wholemeal flour, originally developed as an aid to digestion.

- He dipped his digestive into his tea until it was soft.
- The host offered a selection of biscuits, including chocolate-covered digestives and shortbread, to accompany the afternoon tea service.

Teaching tip: In the UK and Ireland, this is a very common household term; in American English, it is less common and usually refers to the biological process.

## Examples

- Eating slowly helps your digestive system.
- She suffers from chronic digestive issues after eating dairy products.
- The efficiency of the digestive tract determines how well the body extracts essential nutrients from complex meals.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.