aerophagia

American

[air-uh-fey-juh, -jee-uh] / ˌɛər əˈfeɪ dʒə, -dʒi ə /

noun

Psychiatry.

swallowing of air, sometimes due to nervousness or anxiety.

aerophagia British

/ ˌɛərəˈfeɪdʒɪə, -dʒə, ɛəˈrɒfədzɪ /

noun

spasmodic swallowing of air, a habit that can lead to belching and stomach pain

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Word Forms

aerophagist noun

Etymology

Origin of aerophagia

First recorded in 1900–05; aero- + -phagia

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.

With regard to the first of these problems, there is a condition that involves swallowing excessive amounts of air during and between meals, known as aerophagia.

From Salon

Less commonly, intestinal gas can result from aerophagia, or swallowing air.

From US News

Initially she considered aerophagia, in which the habit of swallowing air causes bloating and discomfort.

From New York Times

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023