viscera

American  

[vis-er-uh] / ˈvɪs ər ə /

plural noun

singular

viscus

1. Anatomy, Zoology. the organs in the cavities of the body, especially those in the abdominal cavity.

2. (not used scientifically) the intestines; bowels.

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viscera British  

/ ˈvɪsərə /

plural noun

1. anatomy the large internal organs of the body collectively, esp those in the abdominal cavity

2. (less formally) the intestines; guts

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viscera Scientific  

/ vĭs′ər-ə /

1. The soft internal organs of the body, especially those contained within the abdominal and thoracic cavities.

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Etymology

Origin of viscera

First recorded in 1645–55; from Latin: literally “soft, fleshy parts of a body, internal organs, meat” plural of viscus

Explanation

If someone calls you a gutless coward, he's telling you that you lack both courage and viscera. Your viscera are your innards or your guts. In popular usage the term refers to the intestines, but technically it includes all soft internal organs. Viscera comes from the Latin viscus, meaning "an inner part of the body." You won't hear it much nowadays unless you're studying anatomy or describing particularly gory special effects. (Parents object to ultra-violent videogames where bodies explode, spewing viscera.) Don't confuse it with the related visceral, which does crop up often today and means "instinctive." "She had a visceral reaction to seeing her boyfriend and his hunting pals covered in deer blood and viscera, and dumped him the next day."

Example Sentences

The first two were great fun, and apparently being subsumed into the distended viscera of the MCU won’t stop “Deadpool and Wolverine” or whatever from being R-rated fun.

From Los Angeles Times • Jan. 1, 2024

Their efforts help improve our understanding of Earth’s viscera, of Iceland’s volcanic cadence, and of this peninsula’s volcanic dangers.

From National Geographic • Jul. 24, 2023

He also pleaded guilty to single offence under the same act which related to the generation of viscera at the scene.

From BBC • Feb. 24, 2023

They were an odd sight, mechanical viscera never meant to be seen, now exposed to the world.

From Washington Post • Aug. 23, 2022

A rat scuttled from the shadows, dragging a glistening chunk of meat or viscera.

From "The City Beautiful" by Aden Polydoros