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 LeclerExamples 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
Meanwhile, Alcantara’s condition worsened; he was intubated, placed in a coma and lost a kidney before dying on March 7.
—Elizabeth Keogh, New York Daily News, 11 Mar. 2025
Sweltering conditions can increase the risk of hospitalizations, cardiovascular disease, kidney dysfunction, and mortality, study co-author Eunyoung Choi, PhD, a postdoctoral associate at the Leonard Davis School of Gerontology, University of Southern California, told Health.
—Brian Mastroianni, Health, 10 Mar. 2025
Gene Hackman cause of death released Hackman’s heart showed signs of previous heart attacks, a pacemaker and multiple heart surgeries, as well as a scarred kidney due to chronic high blood pressure.
—Rick Jervis, USA TODAY, 9 Mar. 2025
Korshak died Sunday morning, following kidney failure and other ailments that had recently arisen, at home on Chicago’s Gold Coast, her son Steven said.
—Chris Jones, Chicago Tribune, 2 Mar. 2025
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Elizabeth Keogh, New York Daily News, 11 Mar. 2025
Sweltering conditions can increase the risk of hospitalizations, cardiovascular disease, kidney dysfunction, and mortality, study co-author Eunyoung Choi, PhD, a postdoctoral associate at the Leonard Davis School of Gerontology, University of Southern California, told Health.
—Brian Mastroianni, Health, 10 Mar. 2025
Gene Hackman cause of death released Hackman’s heart showed signs of previous heart attacks, a pacemaker and multiple heart surgeries, as well as a scarred kidney due to chronic high blood pressure.
—Rick Jervis, USA TODAY, 9 Mar. 2025
Korshak died Sunday morning, following kidney failure and other ailments that had recently arisen, at home on Chicago’s Gold Coast, her son Steven said.
—Chris Jones, Chicago Tribune, 2 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for kidney
Articles Related to kidney
Cite this Entry
“Kidney.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/kidney. Accessed 13 Mar. 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
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