diarrhoea: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
B1Predominantly formal/medical, but widely understood in informal contexts. Often considered a taboo/polite euphemism ('the runs', 'tummy bug') is used in casual conversation.
Quick answer
What does “diarrhoea” mean?
A medical condition in which faeces are discharged from the bowels frequently and in a liquid form.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A medical condition in which faeces are discharged from the bowels frequently and in a liquid form.
Can be used metaphorically to describe a sudden, uncontrolled flow or outpouring of something, especially words, information, or data.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Spelling: UK 'diarrhoea' vs. US 'diarrhea'. Pronunciation differs accordingly. Both forms are universally understood in each region.
Connotations
Identical in connotation; equally clinical/formal. The same euphemisms are used in both varieties.
Frequency
Equal frequency in medical/formal contexts. In casual speech, euphemisms are more frequent in both regions.
Grammar
How to Use “diarrhoea” in a Sentence
Patient + have/suffer from + diarrhoeaSomething + cause/give + someone + diarrhoeaDiarrhoea + last + time periodVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “diarrhoea” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The infection can diarrhoeate a patient rapidly. (Extremely rare, non-standard)
- He was diarrhoeaing all night. (Vulgarly informal)
American English
- The medication might diarrheate some individuals. (Rare, non-standard)
- I think I'm going to diarrhea. (Vulgarly informal)
adverb
British English
- (No standard adverbial form.)
- (Figurative) He spoke diarrhoeally for an hour.
American English
- (No standard adverbial form.)
- (Figurative) Data poured out diarrheally from the server.
adjective
British English
- He had diarrhoeic stools.
- The diarrhoeal illness spread quickly through the nursery.
American English
- She presented with diarrheic symptoms.
- Diarrheal diseases are a major cause of childhood mortality.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare. Possibly in travel insurance or HR contexts (e.g., 'unfit for travel due to illness'). Metaphorically: 'a diarrhoea of emails'.
Academic
Common in medical, biological, and public health literature (e.g., 'the study tracked incidence of infectious diarrhoea').
Everyday
Common, but often replaced by euphemisms in polite company. Direct use is acceptable when discussing health with a doctor or close family.
Technical
Core term in medicine (gastroenterology, epidemiology, pharmacology). Specific types: osmotic diarrhoea, secretory diarrhoea, etc.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “diarrhoea”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “diarrhoea”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “diarrhoea”
- Misspelling: 'diarhea', 'dirrhoea'.
- Mispronunciation: /daɪˈrɒə/ or /daɪəˈroʊə/.
- Confusing with 'dysentery' (a specific disease causing severe diarrhoea).
- Using 'diarrhoea' as a countable noun (e.g., 'I had three diarrhoeas'). It is non-count.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It is the standard formal/medical term. In informal casual conversation, people often use euphemisms like 'the runs', 'an upset stomach', or 'a stomach bug' to be more polite.
The spelling and, consequently, the pronunciation. The UK spelling is 'diarrhoea' (/ˌdaɪ.əˈrɪə/), while the US spelling is 'diarrhea' (/ˌdaɪ.əˈri.ə/). The meaning and usage are identical.
No, it is an uncountable (mass) noun. You cannot say 'I had three diarrhoeas'. You can say 'I had three bouts (or episodes) of diarrhoea'.
It is primarily a noun. Adjectives derived from it are 'diarrhoeal/diarrheal' and 'diarrhoeic/diarrheic'. There is no standard verb form; to describe the action, phrases like 'have diarrhoea' or 'suffer from diarrhoea' are used.
A medical condition in which faeces are discharged from the bowels frequently and in a liquid form.
Diarrhoea: in British English it is pronounced /ˌdaɪ.əˈrɪə/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌdaɪ.əˈri.ə/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “A verbal diarrhoea”
- “A diarrhoea of data”
- “A diarrhoea of words”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a DIEt that goes Right Out, Horribly Explosive, Always. (D-I-a-R-R-H-O-E-A).
Conceptual Metaphor
UNCONTROLLED FLUID IS DYSFUNCTIONAL/EXCESSIVE OUTPUT (e.g., of words, information).
Practice
Quiz
What is the standard American English spelling of the word?