What does urinate mean?
Urinate means to discharge urine from the body. It is a formal, clinical, or mildly euphemistic verb, especially common in medical guidance and professional writing, although it is understood in ordinary conversation as well. The usual informal alternative is “pee,” while “make water” is a traditional euphemism and “micturate” is more technical. Urinate is used when describing a need or ability: a person may need to urinate before an examination, may be unable to urinate because of a medical condition, or may experience an urgent urge to urinate. Although the word can sound clinical, its meaning is straightforward and its connection to “urine” makes its relationship to the body and bodily functions clear. It is especially useful in formal or educational contexts where neutral, precise vocabulary is preferred.
verbTo discharge urine from the body. The word is formal or clinical in tone, while “pee” is the usual informal equivalent.
- To discharge urine from the body.
"Patients may need to urinate before undergoing certain medical examinations."
"He had to urinate urgently before the meeting began."
"The doctor asked whether the patient was able to urinate normally."
It is the formal way to say what most people call “pee”—clinical language can make an ordinary bodily act sound surprisingly technical.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does urinate come from?
The English verb urinate comes from Latin urinare, a verb formed from urina, meaning “urine.” The Latin root also survives directly in English words such as “urine” and “urinary,” and is related to cognates in other European languages, including French uriner and Spanish orinar. English acquired the verb during the early modern period and has since developed the related noun “urination.”
Related word forms
How urinate is actually used
Urinate is formal, medical, or euphemistic and is common in health information, clinical writing, and polite conversation. “Pee” is informal and broadly used, especially in American English; “make water” is a traditional euphemism, while “micturate” is more technical.