bowel

noun

bow·​el ˈbau̇(-ə)l 

1

biology : intestine, gut

also : one of the divisions of the intestines

—usually used in plural except in medical use

the large bowel

move your bowels

2

archaic : the seat of pity, tenderness, or courage

—usually used in plural

3

bowels plural : the interior parts

especially : the deep or remote parts

bowels of the earth

bowelless

ˈbau̇(-ə)l-ləs 

adjective

Examples of bowel in a Sentence

a disease of the bowel

They dug deep into the bowels of the earth.

The engine room is down in the bowels of the ship.

Recent Examples on the Web

Stenosis, a rare complication of colonic diverticulitis, can cause bowel obstruction and must be taken care of immediately. —Greta Cross, USA TODAY, 19 Feb. 2025

Francis spent 10 days at the same hospital in July 2021 following intestinal surgery for a bowel narrowing. —Nicole Winfield, Chicago Tribune, 14 Feb. 2025

This tissue can also grow on the bladder, bowel, diaphragm, and the space between the lungs and chest wall.1 Imaging techniques can give healthcare providers a look inside your body. —Wendy Wisner, Health, 13 Feb. 2025

Doctors removed 25 cm of her bowel, along with her lymph nodes, due to the cancer's spread. —Cara Lynn Shultz, People.com, 10 Feb. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Anglo-French buel, boel, from Medieval Latin botellus, from Latin, diminutive of botulus sausage

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing bowel

• bowel movement
• inflammatory bowel disease
• irritable bowel syndrome

Rhymes for bowel

• dowel
• howel
• howell
• towel
• vowel
• avowal
• disavowal

Kids Definition

bowel

noun

bow·​el ˈbau̇(-ə)l 

1

a

: intestine entry 2, gut

—usually used in plural

b

: a division of the intestine

2

plural : the interior parts

the bowels of the earth

3

archaic : supply of mercy or courage

—usually used in plural

Medical Definition

bowel

noun

bow·​el ˈbau̇(-ə)l 

: intestine, gut

also : one of the divisions of the intestines

—usually used in plural except in medical use

move your bowels

surgery of the involved bowel