Word
feces
Phoneticsfe·ces, stress on the first syllable
/ˈfiˌsiz/
UK spelling · faeces
Plural noun
Definition
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.
Examples
“The doctor asked for a sample of his feces.”
“Scientists analyzed the fossilized feces to determine what the ancient animals ate.”
“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.”
Examples
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.”
Usage
Takes a plural verb ('feces are') and has no singular form in common usage.
Real-World Examples
“In the U.S., feces usually end up in sewage systems.” “All that data pointed to something we’ve overlooked: the raw nutrients that fed the ancestors of today’s animal phyla may have reached the ocean depths thanks to feces.” Etymology
From Latin faecēs, nominative plural of faex (“residue, dregs”), further origin unknown; possibly borrowed from a substrate language.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.C1 AdvancedIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.7.0–8.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 5.0–5.595–113TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.945–990
- Frequency
- Frequent
- Level
- C1 · Advanced
- Updated
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