adjective
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of or relating to the soma
somatic cells
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of or relating to an animal body or body wall as distinct from the viscera, limbs, and head
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of or relating to the human body as distinct from the mind
a somatic disease
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Relating to the body.
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◆ The cells of the body with the exception of the reproductive cells (gametes) are known as somatic cells.
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See Note at mitosis
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of somatic
1765–75; < Greek sōmatikós of, pertaining to the body, equivalent to sōmat- somat- + -ikos -ic
Explanation
Somatic is a fancy word that just means dealing with the body. You may be tired of hearing your great-grandfather's somatic complaints, but give him a break — his body has been working for 80 years! Soma comes from a word meaning "body" in Greek, so somatic means "of the body" and is most often used in connection with one's health. You may be more familiar with the related word, psychosomatic, which describes a physical condition or illness caused by the mind rather than a virus or a sprain. If you don't want to go to school so much that you begin to feel sick, that is psychosomatic. But sometimes, your somatic symptoms mean you really do have a cold!
Vocabulary lists containing somatic
100 SAT words Beginning with "S"
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Articles on Benefits of Technology
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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.
But Adeyemi describes suffering somatic pain and panic attacks, alleging she is still being antagonized behind the scenes.
From Salon ● Jul. 31, 2026
At Angie Fadel’s Mindful Archery workshops in Los Angeles, women and nonbinary attendees use bow and arrow instruction, somatic breathwork and nature therapy to release stress and find inner strength.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 8, 2026
Her book guides readers through techniques such as body-based somatic practices and thought work, building to the capacity for utilizing healthy boundaries and direct communication.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 15, 2026
Other studies show that somatic practices can help with motor control and flexibility.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Mar. 19, 2026
Put in another way the body, or somatic cells, contribute absolutely nothing to the original material or germ-plasm of which the germ-cells are composed.
From Embryology The Beginnings of Life by Gerald R. Leighton
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
