An agent that produces a soft formed stool, and relaxes and loosens the bowels, typically used over a protracted period, to relieve constipation. Compare with cathartic, which is a substance that accelerates defecation. A substances can be both a laxative and a cathartic.
A drug used for its effects on the gastrointestinal system, e.g. controlling gastric acidity, regulating gastrointestinal motility and water flow, and improving digestion.