adjective
-
of or relating to the soma
somatic cells
-
of or relating to an animal body or body wall as distinct from the viscera, limbs, and head
-
of or relating to the human body as distinct from the mind
a somatic disease
-
Relating to the body.
-
◆ The cells of the body with the exception of the reproductive cells (gametes) are known as somatic cells.
-
See Note at mitosis
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of somatic
1765–75; < Greek sōmatikós of, pertaining to the body, equivalent to sōmat- somat- + -ikos -ic
Explanation
Somatic is a fancy word that just means dealing with the body. You may be tired of hearing your great-grandfather's somatic complaints, but give him a break — his body has been working for 80 years! Soma comes from a word meaning "body" in Greek, so somatic means "of the body" and is most often used in connection with one's health. You may be more familiar with the related word, psychosomatic, which describes a physical condition or illness caused by the mind rather than a virus or a sprain. If you don't want to go to school so much that you begin to feel sick, that is psychosomatic. But sometimes, your somatic symptoms mean you really do have a cold!
Vocabulary lists containing somatic
100 SAT words Beginning with "S"
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
Articles on Benefits of Technology
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
Challenge, List 12
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Potter, a somatic therapist, hopes her daughter’s time at The Yard will help build resilience and confidence.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 29, 2026
If an onomatopoeia names a sound, non-lexical vocables create a linguistic expression of somatic emotion without using actual language.
From Salon ● Sep. 13, 2026
Taylor-Joy is an ethereal wisp of a thing — very much the somatic opposite of Waddingham — but she sells the action well.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 15, 2026
“The somatic world is in this place of rapid development,” said Laura Temple, a psychiatric nurse practitioner who founded the multi-disciplinary wellness destination Held Space in Brooklyn in 2022.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Mar. 19, 2026
There are numerous cases which can not be explained as transmissions of somatic acquirements even if this transmission could be established in certain cases.
From Being Well-Born An Introduction to Eugenics by Michael F. Guyer
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
