ENGLISH
REFERENCE

feces

n. plural-only
C1 Advanced US //ˈfiˌsiz// fe·ces

n. the solid waste that leaves the body after food is digested.

n. waste matter discharged from the bowels after food has been digested. Often used in medical or scientific contexts to describe excrement.


SIMPLE

The doctor asked for a sample of his feces.

CONTEXTUAL

Scientists analyzed the fossilized feces to determine what the ancient animals ate.

COMPLEX

Proper sanitation systems are essential for public health because they prevent the spread of diseases found in human feces, which can contaminate local water supplies.

Synonyms
Origin

From Latin faecēs, nominative plural of faex (“residue, dregs”), further origin unknown; possibly borrowed from a substrate language.

Usage

Takes a plural verb ('feces are') and has no singular form in common usage.

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