What does constipation mean?
Constipation is a noun referring to a common digestive condition in which bowel movements become infrequent, difficult, or incomplete, usually accompanied by hard, dry stools and sometimes abdominal discomfort or bloating. The word derives from the Latin verb 'constipare', meaning 'to press or crowd together', entered English via late Middle French in the early modern period, and has long served both laypeople and clinicians. It appears most often in health contexts, commonly paired with adjectives such as chronic or severe and verbs such as relieve or suffer from; typical causes include low dietary fiber, inadequate hydration, inactivity, certain medications, and underlying illness. Its standard antonym in everyday discussion is diarrhea, though regularity describes healthy function. Related forms include the verb constipate and the adjective constipated, which is also used colloquially and figuratively. Constipation is neutral in register and useful precisely because it names an everyday ailment plainly and without embarrassment.
nounA condition in which bowel movements are infrequent or difficult to pass, often with hardened stools and abdominal discomfort.
- A condition in which bowel movements are infrequent, difficult, or incomplete, typically producing hard, dry stools.
- (Figurative/rare) A state of congestion, blockage, or sluggishness by analogy with the medical condition.
"After a week of travel with little fiber or water, she developed constipation."
"He blamed his constipation on a diet lacking fiber and fresh vegetables."
"Opioid painkillers are well known to cause constipation as a side effect."
Rarely used; the plural appears mainly in older or technical texts referring to repeated or distinct episodes of the condition.
"The patient's history noted several recurrent constipations over the winter months."
The word 'constipation' comes from Latin 'constipare', meaning 'to press or crowd together' — a fittingly literal origin for what it describes.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of constipation
Constipation derives from the Latin verb 'constipare' ('to crowd or press together'), formed from 'con-' ('together') and 'stipare' ('to pack tight'). It reached English in the early 17th century through late Middle French 'constipation', initially carrying broader senses of compression or crowding before narrowing chiefly to its medical meaning. It shares its Latin root with words such as 'constipate', 'constipated', and, distantly, 'stipend'.
Related word forms
How constipation is actually used
Constipation is a standard term in both everyday speech and formal medical writing; it carries little stigma compared with more graphic descriptions of the condition. In clinical contexts, it may be qualified as acute, chronic, mild, or severe.
Easily confused with constipation
Obstipation is a more severe form in which neither gas nor stool can be passed, whereas constipation refers to infrequent or difficult bowel movements generally.
Ileus is a medical condition of intestinal obstruction or paralysis of the bowel, while constipation is the common symptom of difficult or infrequent stools.