flatulence

American  

[flach-uh-luhns] / ˈflætʃ ə ləns /

Sometimes flatulency

noun

• flatulences
  plural

1. the condition of having an accumulation of gas in the alimentary canal.

   To avoid the uncomfortable feeling of flatulence, increase your fiber intake gradually.

2. the expulsion of alimentary gas through the anus.

   Symptoms include abdominal discomfort, flatulence, and headache.

3. inflated and empty speech or writing; unsupported pretension; pomposity.

   His lectures, noted for their flatulence, were popular fodder for mocking.

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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• flatulences
  plural

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Etymology

Origin of flatulence

First recorded in 1700–10; from French ; flatul(ent) ( def. ) + -ence ( def. )

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

flatulence

Napoleon exclaims during an extended instance of flatulence.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Apr. 30, 2026

The study will use Smart Underwear to measure flatulence patterns continuously in hundreds of participants while also analyzing their diets and gut microbiome composition.

From Science Daily ● Mar. 14, 2026

Despite the prevalence of digestive-health issues, flatulence researchers have been limited to either invasive laboratory studies or self-reporting, which has proven unreliable.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Feb. 20, 2026

But on the flip side, exceeding the recommended amounts of daily dietary fiber can cause several unpleasant GI symptoms, like bloating, abdominal pain, flatulence and constipation.

From Salon ● Jan. 17, 2026

Constipation and flatulence, or “squeaky gut,” as the men called it, made them even more uncomfortable than they already were.

From "Shipwreck at the Bottom of the World" by Jennifer Armstrong

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