noun, verb ·3 syllables ·Moderate ·College level

Definitions

Noun

1. 1
   An injection of fluid into the large intestine by way of the rectum, usually for medical purposes.

   "To the distensile enema of simple tepid water, no valid objection can be urged."

2. 2
   an injection of a liquid through the anus to stimulate evacuation; sometimes used for diagnostic purposes wordnet
3. 3
   The fluid so injected.
4. 4
   A device for administering such an injection.

Verb

1. 1
   To administer an enema.

   "It's common to enema before anal sex."

Synonyms

All synonyms

clysterclysterablutionabstergentaerosolaspergil

Example

More examples

"To the distensile enema of simple tepid water, no valid objection can be urged."

Etymology

Learned borrowing from Late Latin enema, itself borrowed from Ancient Greek ἔνεμα (énema, “injection”), from ἐνίημι (eníēmi, “to send in, inject”).

Related phrases

alcohol enema

Data sourced from Wiktionary, WordNet, CMU, and other open linguistic databases. Updated March 2026.