black vomit: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
Very LowMedical / Historical
Quick answer
What does “black vomit” mean?
A clinical term for vomit that contains partially digested blood, appearing dark or black.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A clinical term for vomit that contains partially digested blood, appearing dark or black.
A historical and lay term for the severe vomiting of dark blood, a key symptom of certain hemorrhagic fevers like yellow fever, and a sign of serious internal bleeding in the upper gastrointestinal tract.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in meaning or usage. Both use the term in identical medical contexts.
Connotations
Strongly associated with severe, often fatal illness. Evokes historical epidemics and critical medical emergencies.
Frequency
Extremely rare in general language. Used with identical rarity in medical texts in both regions.
Grammar
How to Use “black vomit” in a Sentence
The patient presented with black vomit.Black vomit is a symptom of...to vomit black vomitVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “black vomit” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The patient began to black-vomit (rare compound verb).
American English
- The patient was black-vomiting (rare compound verb).
adverb
British English
- Not used.
American English
- Not used.
adjective
British English
- The black-vomit symptom was indicative of advanced disease.
American English
- He had a black-vomit episode.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Not used.
Academic
Used in medical history papers and clinical case studies describing specific symptoms.
Everyday
Virtually never used in casual conversation. Would cause alarm.
Technical
Used in clinical medicine and medical textbooks, though 'haematemesis' is more standard; 'coffee ground emesis' describes a specific variant.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “black vomit”
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “black vomit”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “black vomit”
- Using it as a metaphor for something disgusting (incorrect).
- Confusing it with non-bloody, dark vomit from food or drink.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is primarily historical. Modern medicine uses 'haematemesis' or 'coffee ground emesis'.
No, it typically refers to vomit mixed with partially digested blood, giving it a dark, granular appearance.
No. It is a graphic medical term. Using it casually would be highly inappropriate and alarming.
It was most famously associated with severe yellow fever and other viral hemorrhagic fevers.
A clinical term for vomit that contains partially digested blood, appearing dark or black.
Black vomit: in British English it is pronounced /ˌblæk ˈvɒmɪt/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌblæk ˈvɑːmɪt/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “None. This is a literal medical term.”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: 'Black' like old, digested blood + 'vomit' = a very serious medical warning sign.
Conceptual Metaphor
Not applicable; it is a literal descriptor.
Practice
Quiz
In which context is the term 'black vomit' most accurately used?