adjective
noun
-
a less common word for digestant
-
short for digestive biscuit
Other Word Forms
- digestively adverb
- nondigestive adjective
- postdigestive adjective
Etymology
Origin of digestive
1350–1400; Middle English < Middle French digestif < Latin dīgestīvus, equivalent to dīgest ( us ) ( see digest) + -īvus -ive
Explanation
Anything that's digestive has something to do with the body's process of breaking down food. A stomach ache can be a sign of digestive problems — or just nervousness about the first day of school. Your digestive system is made up of all the body parts that contribute to taking large pieces of food and breaking them into water-soluble bits that are eventually absorbed into your bloodstream. Sometimes this adjective describes food that's meant to help in this process, like digestive mints and digestive biscuits. As a noun it simply means "food or medicine that aids digestion." If you're overfull after Thanksgiving dinner, your grandmother might suggest you take a digestive.
Vocabulary lists containing digestive
Life Science: Human Systems
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Life Science II
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Vocabulary from Readings, Unit 2
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
J&J has been working to ensure consistent growth after losing patent protection for Stelara, a treatment for skin and digestive conditions.
From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 14, 2026
Trichomonosis is caused by a parasite that affects the mouth, throat and upper digestive tracts of birds and can make it hard for them to eat, drink or breathe.
From BBC • Apr. 9, 2026
It causes inflammation in the digestive tract and can lead to symptoms such as diarrhea, cramping, abdominal pain and weight loss.
From Science Daily • Apr. 3, 2026
It is a vessel which connects the brain to various organs, including the heart, lungs, and digestive tract.
From BBC • Mar. 30, 2026
Emma spent many nights sitting with him. holding him, comforting him, tending to him, as he suffered from sleeplessness, heart palpitations, and his almost constant digestive upset.
From "Charles and Emma: The Darwins' Leap of Faith" by Deborah Heiligman
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
