Feces vs. Stool — What's the Difference?
By Tayyaba Rehman — Updated on November 4, 2023
Feces are waste matter discharged from the bowels; stool is a term often used in medical contexts to refer to feces.
Difference Between Feces and Stool
Table of Contents
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Key Differences
Feces represent the solid waste material that humans and animals excrete through the digestive process. The term 'feces' is typically used in both clinical and scientific settings.
Stool, on the other hand, is a more formal term that is often used in the medical field. It refers to fecal matter but is commonly used when discussing bowel movements with patients or in the context of medical testing and health assessments.
In everyday language, feces can be referred to using various terms like poop, waste, or excrement. These terms are less formal and are more common in casual speech.
The term stool is also used to describe the physical shape or quality of fecal matter, especially during medical evaluations, such as in a stool sample for laboratory analysis.
While both terms describe the same substance, the context in which they are used can differ, with 'feces' being more universal and 'stool' being more clinical.
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Comparison Chart
Definition
Waste matter from the bowels.
Medical term for waste matter from the bowels.
Usage
Broad use, including scientific research.
Primarily in medical contexts.
Context
Can be informal or formal.
Typically formal.
Associated Phrases
"Fecal matter," "animal droppings."
"Stool sample," "stool test."
Variations
No specific variations in meaning.
Used to describe form and consistency in medicine.
Compare with Definitions
Feces
Feces contain undigested food, bacteria, and dead cells.
Feces are an indicator of digestive health.
Stool
Stool is often used to talk about bowel movements in a medical context.
Changes in stool color can signify health issues.
Feces
Fecal matter is expelled from the body during defecation.
Public restrooms must be kept clean of feces to maintain hygiene.
Stool
Stool consistency and frequency are important health indicators.
The patient's stool was tested for parasites.
Feces
Feces analysis can provide important health indicators.
Doctors examined the feces for signs of intestinal infection.
Stool
The term 'stool' is used in various diagnostic phrases, such as "stool chart."
The nurse used a stool chart to track the patient's bowel movements.
Feces
Feces vary in appearance, depending on diet and health.
Herbivores produce different feces than carnivores.
Stool
A backless and armless single seat supported on legs or a pedestal.
Feces
Feces are the solid or semisolid waste material from the digestive tract.
The zookeeper cleaned the feces from the animal enclosures.
Stool
A low bench or support for the feet or knees in sitting or kneeling, as a footrest.
Feces
Feces (or faeces) is the solid or semi-solid remains of food that was not digested in the small intestine, and has been broken down by bacteria in the large intestine. Feces contains a relatively small amount of metabolic waste products such as bacterially altered bilirubin, and dead epithelial cells from the lining of the gut.Feces is discharged through the anus or cloaca during defecation.
Stool
A toilet seat; a commode.
Feces
Waste matter eliminated from the bowels; excrement.
Stool
Evacuated fecal matter.
Feces
Digested waste material (typically solid or semi-solid) discharged from a human or mammal's stomach to the intestines; excrement.
Stool
A stump or rootstock that produces shoots or suckers.
Feces
Dregs; sediment; excrement. See FÆces.
Stool
A shoot or growth from such a stump or rootstock.
Feces
Solid excretory product evacuated from the bowels
Stool
(Botany) To send up shoots or suckers.
Stool
To evacuate the bowels; defecate.
Stool
(Slang) To act as a stool pigeon.
Stool
A seat, especially for one person and without armrests.
Stool
A seat for one person without a back or armrests.
Stool
A footstool.
Stool
A seat with a back; a chair.
Stool
A throne.
Stool
(obsolete) A close-stool; a seat used for urination and defecation: a chamber pot, commode, outhouse seat, or toilet.
Stool
(horticulture) A plant that has been cut down until its main stem is close to the ground, resembling a stool, to promote new growth.
Stool
Feces, excrement.
I provided the doctor with stool samples.
Stool
A production of feces or excrement, an act of defecation, stooling.
Stool
(archaic) A decoy; a portable piece of wood to which a pigeon is fastened to lure wild birds.
Stool
(nautical) A small channel on the side of a vessel, for the deadeyes of the backstays.
Stool
Material, such as oyster shells, spread on the sea bottom for oyster spat to adhere to.
Stool
A plant from which layers are propagated by bending its branches into the soil.
Stool
To produce stool: to defecate.
Stool
(horticulture) To cut down (a plant) until its main stem is close to the ground, resembling a stool, to promote new growth.
Stool
(agriculture) To ramify; to tiller, as grain; to shoot out suckers.
Stool
A plant from which layers are propagated by bending its branches into the soil.
Stool
A single seat with three or four legs and without a back, made in various forms for various uses.
Stool
A seat used in evacuating the bowels; hence, an evacuation; a discharge from the bowels.
Stool
A stool pigeon, or decoy bird.
Stool
A small channel on the side of a vessel, for the dead-eyes of the backstays.
Stool
A bishop's seat or see; a bishop-stool.
Stool
A bench or form for resting the feet or the knees; a footstool; as, a kneeling stool.
Stool
Material, such as oyster shells, spread on the sea bottom for oyster spat to adhere to.
Stool
To ramfy; to tiller, as grain; to shoot out suckers.
Stool
A simple seat without a back or arms
Stool
Solid excretory product evacuated from the bowels
Stool
(forestry) the stump of a tree that has been felled or headed for the production of saplings
Stool
A plumbing fixture for defecation and urination
Stool
Lure with a stool, as of wild fowl
Stool
React to a decoy, of wildfowl
Stool
Grow shoots in the form of stools or tillers
Stool
Have a bowel movement;
The dog had made in the flower beds
Stool
Stool refers to excreted fecal matter, especially in humans.
The doctor requested a stool sample for the lab test.
Stool
A stool test can help diagnose diseases and conditions.
A stool test confirmed the diagnosis of the gastrointestinal disorder.
Common Curiosities
Why are feces sometimes different colors?
Diet, medications, and health conditions can change the color of feces.
Is it normal for stool to float?
Sometimes; it can be due to gas or a high-fat content in the diet.
What are the signs of healthy feces?
Healthy feces are typically brown, formed, and consistent in texture.
How can diet affect feces?
Diet influences fecal composition, consistency, and frequency.
Can feces indicate illness?
Yes, changes in feces can signal digestive issues or other illnesses.
Are there different types of stool tests?
Yes, including tests for blood, pathogens, and digestive disorders.
Can I use 'stool' and 'feces' interchangeably?
In medical contexts, 'stool' is preferred, but they can often be used interchangeably.
Why do we need to examine feces in medicine?
To assess the health of the digestive system and detect diseases.
Are feces and stool the same thing?
Yes, both refer to excreted waste from the digestive tract.
What does a stool sample test for?
It tests for infections, digestive problems, and occult blood, among other things.
How often should a healthy person have a bowel movement?
It varies, but typically once a day to a few times a week is considered normal.
What is a stool softener?
A medication that makes it easier to pass stool by increasing its water content.
What causes blood in the stool?
It can be caused by hemorrhoids, inflammation, or more serious conditions like cancer.
What does persistent loose stool indicate?
It may indicate an infection or a chronic digestive disorder.
Can dehydration affect feces?
Yes, it can make stool hard and difficult to pass.
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Written by
Tayyaba RehmanTayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.
