Excrement

/ˈɛkskɹəmənt/ noun

noun ·Moderate ·College level

Meaning at a glance

  • Primary sense: Human and non-human animal solid waste excreted from the bowels; feces.
  • Grammar: excrement is listed as noun.
  • Nearest alternatives: excreta, body waste, carrion, corruption.
  • Usage evidence: "You've fallen asleep. Good. I am now going to leave you all alone in the dark while I go out and get drunk." "You are a terrible person." "Gosh! You're still awake." "I stick my tongue out at you as a gesture of defiance. Now continue with the bloody story. If you omit even the tiniest and most insignificant of details, you will return here tomorrow to find these walls covered in excrement. Do I make myself perfectly clear?" "Shut up and listen."

How to use "excrement"

  1. Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
  2. Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "excrement" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
  3. Use the example sentence as a context check. If your sentence uses the word differently, confirm that the grammar still fits.

Meaning check

  • Does the word fit the sentence's grammar?
  • Does it match the intended tone rather than only the dictionary definition?
  • Would a simpler synonym be clearer for the reader?
  • Is there enough surrounding context to prevent ambiguity?

Source and review context

This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "excrement" in a final draft.

If a word has several senses, prefer the sense that matches your sentence's grammar and surrounding context. A correct definition can still be the wrong choice when the sentence needs a different register, emphasis, or level of specificity.

Before you rely on this definition

Read the first definition as a starting point, then check the example, synonyms, and part of speech before treating "excrement" as the right word for your sentence.

If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "excrement" with a nearby alternative so the final choice matches both meaning and reader expectation.

Compare nearby meanings

  • Use synonyms when you need a softer, stronger, simpler, or more specific word.
  • Use antonyms to check the boundary of the meaning and avoid accidental contrast.
  • Use the example sentence to confirm the word behaves naturally in context.
  • Keep the original wording when a replacement adds complexity without improving precision.

Definition decision workflow

1. Identify the role

Check whether "excrement" is acting as noun in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.

2. Test the nearest option

Compare it with "excreta" and other nearby choices to see whether the sentence needs a softer, stronger, or more familiar word.

3. Confirm with context

Use the example sentence below as an evidence check, then read your own sentence out loud to catch tone or rhythm problems.

Review note: Definition pages are checked for source coverage, sentence evidence, synonym support, and editorial insight before they are treated as approval-ready pages. If the evidence is too thin, the page remains available to users but is kept out of the approval-facing indexed inventory.

Final meaning check

Before publishing a sentence with "excrement", ask whether the word helps the reader understand the idea faster. A precise word should reduce confusion, not simply make the sentence look more polished.

When the definition, synonym evidence, and example context point in the same direction, the word is usually a safer choice. When they conflict, revise the sentence or choose a clearer alternative.

Definitions

Noun
  1. 1
    Human and non-human animal solid waste excreted from the bowels; feces. countable, specifically, uncountable

    "The Roman poet Horace states that the excrement of the crocodile has aphrodisiac virtues."

  2. 2
    Something which grows out of the body; hair, nails, etc. obsolete
  3. 3
    waste matter (as urine or sweat but especially feces) discharged from the body wordnet
  4. 4
    Any waste matter excreted from the human or non-human animal body, or discharged by bodily organs. archaic, countable, uncountable

    "A French Gentleman was ever wont to blow his nose in his hand […]. He asked me on a time, what privilege this filthie excrement had, that wee should have a daintie linnen cloth or handkercher to receive the same."

Example

""You've fallen asleep. Good. I am now going to leave you all alone in the dark while I go out and get drunk." "You are a terrible person." "Gosh! You're still awake." "I stick my tongue out at you as a gesture of defiance. Now continue with the bloody story. If you omit even the tiniest and most insignificant of details, you will return here tomorrow to find these walls covered in excrement. Do I make myself perfectly clear?" "Shut up and listen.""

Common questions

What does "excrement" mean?

Human and non-human animal solid waste excreted from the bowels; feces.

What is a synonym for "excrement"?

Common synonyms include: excreta, body waste, carrion, corruption, crap, dandruff.

How do you use "excrement" in a sentence?

"You've fallen asleep. Good. I am now going to leave you all alone in the dark while I go out and get drunk." "You are a terrible person." "Gosh! You're still awake." "I stick my tongue out at you as a gesture of defiance. Now continue with the bloody story. If you omit even the tiniest and most insignificant of details, you will return here tomorrow to find these walls covered in excrement. Do I make myself perfectly clear?" "Shut up and listen."

How do you pronounce "excrement"?

Pronounced /ˈɛkskɹəmənt/.

Etymology

Etymology 1

Borrowed from Latin excrēmentum, from excernō (“I excrete”).

Etymology 2

Borrowed from Latin excrēmentum, from excrēscō (“I grow out”).

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