Showing results for stomach bug. Search instead for stomach cough.

stomach bug

American

[stuhm-uhk buhg] / ˈstʌm ək ˌbʌg /

noun

a short-term illness with digestive symptoms, such as vomiting and diarrhea, caused by a virus or bacteria.

Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

stomach bugs

plural

Etymology

Origin of stomach bug

First recorded in 1955–60

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.

See Examples For:

stomach bug

“It lasts much longer than a stomach bug where you’re sick for a day and you bounce back.”

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 17, 2026

Suryakumar said dashing opener Abhishek Sharma has recovered well from a stomach bug and was likely to play.

From Barron's ● Feb. 14, 2026

At age nine, Courtenay became ill suddenly with what was thought to be a stomach bug.

From BBC ● Nov. 26, 2025

It increases with bad stress like a difficult meeting or a stomach bug, as well as good stress like a family reunion or a birthday party.

From Slate ● Sep. 9, 2025

There was actually a stomach bug going around, so it was a good lie.

From "Wonder" by R. J. Palacio

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023