1. the act or process of coughing up and spitting out phlegm, mucus, or other matter from the respiratory tract
Usage: medical/clinical term; commonly used in healthcare contexts
2. the matter that is coughed up and expelled from the lungs or throat
Usage: medical term

Examples

• The doctor examined the patient's expectoration to check for signs of infection.
• Persistent expectoration is often a symptom of bronchitis.
• The nurse collected a sample of expectoration for laboratory analysis.
• Expectoration may increase during respiratory illnesses.
• The medication helped reduce the patient's expectoration over time.
• Chronic expectoration can be a sign of underlying lung disease.