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
Pacheco, 37, sought treatment at a local hospital and was diagnosed with end-stage renal disease, or kidney failure, Siegel said.
—Andi Babineau, CNN Money, 3 Apr. 2025
Too much vitamin D can lead to excessive calcium levels in the blood and urine, resulting in kidney stones, kidney failure, and irregular heartbeats.19
Vitamin E: Vitamin E from food is safe.
—Staff Author, Verywell Health, 3 Apr. 2025
Pacheco has nearly 100% kidney failure and gets dialysis three times a week for four hours a day from 4 to 8 a.m.
—Laura Rodríguez Presa, Chicago Tribune, 2 Apr. 2025
Giuffre, 41, said Sunday she’d been diagnosed with kidney failure following the crash.
—Joseph Wilkinson, New York Daily News, 31 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for kidney
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Andi Babineau, CNN Money, 3 Apr. 2025
Too much vitamin D can lead to excessive calcium levels in the blood and urine, resulting in kidney stones, kidney failure, and irregular heartbeats.19
Vitamin E: Vitamin E from food is safe.
—Staff Author, Verywell Health, 3 Apr. 2025
Pacheco has nearly 100% kidney failure and gets dialysis three times a week for four hours a day from 4 to 8 a.m.
—Laura Rodríguez Presa, Chicago Tribune, 2 Apr. 2025
Giuffre, 41, said Sunday she’d been diagnosed with kidney failure following the crash.
—Joseph Wilkinson, New York Daily News, 31 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for kidney
Cite this Entry
“Kidney.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/kidney. Accessed 15 Apr. 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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