Feces

Pronunciation

• IPA: /ˈfiːsiːz/
• Rhymes: -iːsiz

Alternative forms

• faeces British, fæces archaic

Origin

From Latin faecēs, nominative plural of faex ("residue, dregs").

Full definition of feces

Noun

1. Digested waste material (typically solid or semi-solid) discharged from the bowels; excrement.

Usage notes

This word can be used with plural verbs ("feces have a strong smell") or singular ones ("feces has a strong smell"). Use with plural verbs is more common, especially in Britain, and is the only use recognized by some dictionaries,

Dictionary.com while others recognize both plural and singular use.

TheFreeDictionary

Synonyms

• (discharged animal waste) excrement, faecal matter, guano of birds or bats only, manure not used of human faeces
• night soil euphemistic
• doo, poo, poop, and doody euphemistic or hypocoristic
• crap, shit, turd, log vulgar

Related terms

• defecate
• fecal
• feceate
• feculence
• feculent