B2 adjective Neutral #12 most common

digestive

/daɪˈdʒɛstɪv/

Relating to the process of breaking down food into substances that can be used by the body. It specifically describes organs, enzymes, or biological systems involved in nutrition and metabolism.

Examples

3 of 5
1

Drinking plenty of water is essential for maintaining a healthy digestive system.

Staying hydrated is very important for keeping your stomach and intestines working well.

2

The patient reported chronic pain within the digestive tract following the procedure.

The person mentioned long-term discomfort in their food-processing organs after the surgery.

3

I think this spicy food is really messing with my digestive health today.

I believe this hot food is upsetting my stomach and digestion right now.

Word Family

Noun
digestion
Verb
digest
Adverb
digestively
Adjective
digestive
Related
digestibility
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Memory Tip

Think of the 'D' in Digestive as 'Down'—it helps the food go Down and be broken Down.

Quick Quiz

The human _______ system is responsible for converting food into energy.

Correct!

The correct answer is: digestive

Examples

1

Drinking plenty of water is essential for maintaining a healthy digestive system.

everyday

Staying hydrated is very important for keeping your stomach and intestines working well.

2

The patient reported chronic pain within the digestive tract following the procedure.

formal

The person mentioned long-term discomfort in their food-processing organs after the surgery.

3

I think this spicy food is really messing with my digestive health today.

informal

I believe this hot food is upsetting my stomach and digestion right now.

4

Research indicates that certain digestive enzymes are deactivated by high temperatures.

academic

Scientific studies show that specific proteins used for digestion stop working when it is too hot.

5

Our pharmaceutical branch is focusing on developing new digestive aids for the aging population.

business

Our medicine department is working on creating new products to help elderly people digest food better.

Word Family

Noun
digestion
Verb
digest
Adverb
digestively
Adjective
digestive
Related
digestibility

Common Collocations

digestive system the bodily system that processes food
digestive tract the series of organs through which food passes
digestive enzymes chemicals that help break down food
digestive health the overall condition of one's digestion
digestive disorders medical problems related to the stomach or intestines

Common Phrases

digestive biscuit

a semi-sweet biscuit popular in the UK, originally thought to aid digestion

digestive juices

fluids produced by the body to help break down food

digestive upset

a minor illness or discomfort in the stomach

Often Confused With

digestive vs digestion

Digestion is the noun referring to the process itself, while digestive is the adjective describing things related to that process.

digestive vs digestible

Digestible means food that is easy to break down; digestive refers to the system that does the breaking down.

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Usage Notes

The word is almost always used as an attributive adjective, meaning it comes immediately before a noun (e.g., digestive system). It is rarely used as a predicative adjective after a verb like 'to be'.

⚠️

Common Mistakes

Learners sometimes use the noun 'digestion' where the adjective 'digestive' is required, such as saying 'digestion tract' instead of 'digestive tract'.

💡

Memory Tip

Think of the 'D' in Digestive as 'Down'—it helps the food go Down and be broken Down.

📖

Word Origin

From the Latin 'digestivus', derived from 'digerere' which means 'to carry apart, separate, or arrange'.

Grammar Patterns

Used as an attributive adjective (placed before nouns) Non-gradable adjective (usually doesn't have comparative forms like 'more digestive')
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Cultural Context

In British culture, 'digestive' is most commonly associated with a specific type of biscuit often eaten with tea.

Quick Quiz

The human _______ system is responsible for converting food into energy.

Correct!

The correct answer is: digestive

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