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

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

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

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

From "The Inquisitor's Tale" by Adam Gidwitz