tummy
Americannoun
-
tummies
plural
noun
Other Word Forms
Noun Inflected Forms
Etymology
Origin of tummy
First recorded in 1865–70; nursery alteration of stomach
Explanation
Tummy is an informal shorthand for stomach. This word is mainly used for talking to little kids: "Aw, do you have a tummy ache?" You wouldn't use the word tummy in your human anatomy class, but you might use it when you babysit your two-year-old niece. Infants sometimes have "tummy time," a short period when they are turned onto their stomachs so they can develop their neck and shoulder muscles. Tummy has been in use since the 19th century, and experts guess that it comes from a childish pronunciation of stomach.
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:
Among patients 66 and older, demand for breast augmentations, tummy tucks, arm lifts, thigh lifts and facelifts all increased by double digits.
From MarketWatch ● Sep. 5, 2026
There was a collective swoon when news came through on Thursday that McTominay, the totem, had an iffy tummy, but he's good now.
From BBC ● Jun. 13, 2026
"I think I went a bit blank, if I'm very honest. She can't really be saying these words to me. This is a tummy bug," she said.
From BBC ● Mar. 31, 2026
The medical term for my ailment is an asymmetrical gluteal cleft, though requests to fix it are far less common than those to eliminate cellulite, flatten the tummy, or augment the breasts.
From Slate ● Feb. 22, 2026
"They're probably scooping out the free samples," Nancy said, rubbing her tummy.
From "Scream for Ice Cream: Nancy Drew and the Clue Crew, #2" by Carolyn Keene
More and more issues — upset tummies, heart murmurs, pancreatitis attacks — crept in with every passing year.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 28, 2026
“There are grandparents who in their day were told to put their babies to sleep on their tummies, and they may be influencing the decisions parents are making.”
From Washington Post ● Apr. 10, 2022
Stop for wood-fired pizza at Backcountry Brewing when tummies start to rumble.
From Seattle Times ● Nov. 2, 2021
Our tummies can't digest lactose as we get older.
From Salon ● Jun. 23, 2021
At least their tummies were stuffed full of pancakes, she reasoned.
From "The Interrupted Tale" by Maryrose Wood
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.
