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

Another, Gary, came in with a stomach bug and finally got a bed after 34 hours.

From BBC ● Dec. 10, 2025

Real Madrid goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois will miss the Champions League trip to face Olympiacos because of a stomach bug, said the Spanish giants Tuesday.

From Barron's ● Nov. 25, 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

“Sekani has a stomach bug and begged me to bring him Home.”

From "The Hate U Give" by Angie Thomas

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