flatulence: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1formal, medical, humorous
Quick answer
What does “flatulence” mean?
Excessive gas in the stomach or intestines.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
Excessive gas in the stomach or intestines.
Verbosity or pretentiousness in speech or writing; pompous or self-important language that lacks substance.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in core meaning. 'Gas' (US) and 'wind' (UK) are more common everyday synonyms for the physiological sense.
Connotations
Both varieties share formal/medical and humorous/derogatory registers. Slightly more likely to be used humorously in UK English.
Frequency
Higher frequency in medical/technical contexts in both varieties. In everyday speech, synonyms (e.g., 'gas', 'bloating', 'wind') are more common.
Grammar
How to Use “flatulence” in a Sentence
suffer from + flatulencecause + flatulencebe accompanied by + flatulencelead to + flatulencecomplain of + flatulenceVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “flatulence” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- He spent the evening flatulating discreetly after the rich meal.
- Certain foods make you flatulate more.
American English
- The medication caused him to flatulate excessively.
- He's flatulating again after eating cabbage.
adjective
British English
- He felt flatulent after the curry.
- A flatulent feeling plagued him all afternoon.
American English
- She avoided flatulent foods before the meeting.
- The patient reported being flatulent and bloated.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Not typically used. Metaphorically, could criticize verbose reports: 'The proposal's flatulence obscured its core value.'
Academic
Used in medical/biological texts for the physiological condition. In humanities, used metaphorically for verbose prose.
Everyday
Used in formal or humorous contexts to discuss digestive issues. E.g., 'Beans can cause flatulence.'
Technical
Standard term in medical diagnosis (e.g., 'patient presents with abdominal pain and flatulence').
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “flatulence”
Strong
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “flatulence”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “flatulence”
- Misspelling as 'flatulance' or 'flatuence'. Confusing with 'bloating' (a sensation, not the gas itself). Using in overly casual contexts where 'gas' would be more natural.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It is a formal, medical term, but the topic itself is considered private. In casual settings, 'gas' or 'wind' is often preferred to avoid sounding clinical or to be less direct.
Flatulence specifically refers to the presence or release of intestinal gas. Bloating is the subjective sensation of abdominal fullness or distension, which can be caused by flatulence but also by other factors like fluid or solid contents.
Yes, metaphorically. It can describe speech or writing that is inflated, pompous, and full of 'hot air' without substantial content.
To 'flatulate' is the technical verb, though it's very formal and rare. In everyday language, people use phrases like 'pass gas' (US/medical), 'break wind' (UK), or simply 'have gas'.
Excessive gas in the stomach or intestines.
Flatulence is usually formal, medical, humorous in register.
Flatulence: in British English it is pronounced /ˈflatʃʊl(ə)ns/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈflætʃʊləns/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “full of hot air (related to the metaphorical sense)”
- “long-winded (related to the metaphorical sense)”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a FLAT tyre being pumped full of air (ulence) until it becomes bloated and uncomfortable—just like a stomach with too much gas.
Conceptual Metaphor
INFLATED LANGUAGE IS EXCESSIVE GAS / VERBOSITY IS A PHYSICAL BURDEN
Practice
Quiz
In a literary review, describing a text's 'flatulence' criticises its: