# fecal

/ˈfikəɫ/ (US) · CEFR C1 · Adjective

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/fecal
Updated: 2026-05-11

## Definition

relating to solid waste that leaves the body after food is digested. It is a medical or scientific word for things connected to poop.

For teachers: relating to, consisting of, or contained in feces. Typically used in medical, biological, or forensic contexts to describe waste matter or contamination.

## Examples

- The doctor requested a fecal sample for the lab test.
- The city issued a warning after high levels of fecal bacteria were discovered in the local river after the storm.
- Environmental scientists use fecal markers to track the migration patterns of elusive mammals without needing to capture or disturb the animals in their natural habitat.

## Pitfalls

- Not "the fecal of the animal" but "the feces of the animal" — Fecal is an adjective and must modify a noun; the noun form for the waste itself is feces.

## Usage notes

- Typically used in technical or clinical contexts; precedes the noun it modifies.

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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.