flatulence

American  

[flach-uh-luhns] / ˈflætʃ ə ləns /

Sometimes flatulency

noun

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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Etymology

Origin of flatulence

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

Example Sentences

Eating foods that contain gluten can trigger a range of gut symptoms, such as diarrhoea, stomach aches, sloating and flatulence, indigestion and constipation.

From BBC • Mar. 22, 2026

In research published in Biosensors and Bioelectronics: X, a study led by UMD assistant research scientist Santiago Botasini used the device to measure flatulence in healthy adults.

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

Denmark has agreed on how to implement the world’s first tax on agricultural emissions, including flatulence by livestock.

From BBC • Nov. 18, 2024

The safe room was in a shambles, blown apart by some sort of fairy flatulence.

From "Artemis Fowl" by Eoin Colfer