diarrhoea

British

/ ˌdaɪəˈrɪə /

noun

frequent and copious discharge of abnormally liquid faeces

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Word Forms

diarrhoeal adjective

Etymology

Origin of diarrhoea

C16: from Late Latin, from Greek diarrhoia, from diarrhein to flow through, from _dia- + rhein to flow

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.

Cryptosporidiosis can cause severe diarrhoea, vomiting, fever, and stomach cramps and can be particularly serious for young children and vulnerable groups.

From BBC • Mar. 24, 2026

Several manufacturers have issued recalls in more than 60 countries since December of infant formula that could be contaminated by the cereulide toxin which can cause nausea, vomiting and diarrhoea.

From Barron's • Feb. 6, 2026

"Taking a few simple precautions against traveller's diarrhoea and food poisoning can make all the difference," Dr Gauri Godbole, the UKHSA's deputy director for gastrointestinal infections and food safety, said.

From BBC • Feb. 5, 2026

It causes severe diarrhoea, vomiting and muscle cramps.

From Barron's • Feb. 4, 2026

It is humiliating before others to have a diarrhoea from ptomaine poisoning or to vomit from it.

From "The Old Man and The Sea" by Ernest Hemingway

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023