plural kidneys
1
a
: one of a pair of vertebrate organs situated in the body cavity near the spinal column that excrete waste products of metabolism, in humans are bean-shaped organs about 4¹/₂ inches (11¹/₂ centimeters) long lying behind the peritoneum in a mass of fatty tissue, and consist chiefly of nephrons by which urine is secreted, collected, and discharged into a main cavity from which it is conveyed by the ureter to the bladder
b
: any of various excretory organs of invertebrate animals
2
: the kidney of an animal eaten as food
3
: sort or kind especially with regard to temperament
a nice helpful guy, of a different kidney entirely from the … Secret Police—
Paula Lecler
Paula LeclerSynonyms
Examples of kidney in a Sentence
a patient with a damaged kidney
her new boyfriend is of a different kidney than what she usually dates
Recent Examples on the Web
Library hosts class on kidney disease The Eustis Memorial Library, 120 N. Center St., will have a chronic kidney disease education program, Kidney Smart Class, from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Jan. 13.
—Orlando Sentinel Staff, Orlando Sentinel, 9 Jan. 2025
Still, a year before her record-tying stint at the Olympics, she was diagnosed with two incurable kidney diseases that almost stopped her in her tracks.
—Rachel Murphy, Health, 8 Jan. 2025
Both Novo Nordisk and Eli Lilly are studying their weight loss medicines as treatments for fatty liver disease, chronic kidney disease, sleep apnea and more.
—Annika Kim Constantino, CNBC, 8 Jan. 2025
People with heart disease, diabetes and chronic kidney disease should take extra care to breathe clean air, the CDC says.
—Karen Kaplan, Los Angeles Times, 8 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for kidney 
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Orlando Sentinel Staff, Orlando Sentinel, 9 Jan. 2025
Still, a year before her record-tying stint at the Olympics, she was diagnosed with two incurable kidney diseases that almost stopped her in her tracks.
—Rachel Murphy, Health, 8 Jan. 2025
Both Novo Nordisk and Eli Lilly are studying their weight loss medicines as treatments for fatty liver disease, chronic kidney disease, sleep apnea and more.
—Annika Kim Constantino, CNBC, 8 Jan. 2025
People with heart disease, diabetes and chronic kidney disease should take extra care to breathe clean air, the CDC says.
—Karen Kaplan, Los Angeles Times, 8 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for kidney
Articles Related to kidney
Dictionary Entries Near kidney
Cite this Entry
“Kidney.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/kidney. Accessed 22 Jan. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
kidney
noun
kid·ney
ˈkid-nē 
plural kidneys
1
: either of a pair of oval to bean-shaped organs located in the back part of the abdomen near the spine that give off waste products in the form of urine
2
: an organ of an invertebrate animal that gives off waste
Medical Definition
kidney
noun
kid·ney
ˈkid-nē
plural kidneys
1
: one of a pair of vertebrate organs situated in the body cavity near the spinal column that excrete waste products of metabolism, in humans are bean-shaped organs about 4¹/₂ inches (11¹/₂ centimeters) long lying behind the peritoneum in a mass of fatty tissue, and consist chiefly of nephrons by which urine is secreted, collected, and discharged into the renal pelvis whence it is conveyed by the ureter to the bladder compare mesonephros, metanephros, pronephros
2
: any of various excretory organs of invertebrate animals
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share