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

Researchers at the University of Maryland have developed Smart Underwear, the first wearable device designed specifically to measure human flatulence.

From Science Daily • Mar. 14, 2026

Researchers have developed a tiny, battery-powered hydrogen sensor that continuously monitors a wearer’s flatulence, with the aim of collecting data to improve digestive health.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 27, 2026

The referee called his flatulence "unsportsmanlike" and thought he was "farting on someone else".

From BBC • Jan. 25, 2025

The idea was to scare the beast, because that’s when it unleashed its diabolical flatulence.

From "The Inquisitor's Tale" by Adam Gidwitz