celiac

1 of 2

adjective

ce·​li·​ac ˈsē-lē-ˌak How to pronounce celiac (audio)
variants or chiefly British coeliac
1
: of or relating to the abdominal cavity
2
: relating to or used for celiac disease
a celiac diet

celiac

2 of 2

noun

variants or chiefly British coeliac
plural celiacs
: a person affected with celiac disease
Many celiacs bounce from doctor to doctor for help with symptoms that stubbornly defy treatment.David P. Hamilton

Examples of celiac in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Adjective
While the main menu is meat-forward, the restaurant also offers vegetarian, pescatarian, and celiac menus. Lauren Dana Ellman, Travel + Leisure, 7 Oct. 2023 Meanwhile, people with celiac disease or a non-celiac gluten sensitivity should avoid herbal coffees that contain barley, which has gluten, Volpe says. Karen Asp, Better Homes & Gardens, 21 July 2023 Additionally, since brown rice is naturally gluten-free, rice cakes made from brown rice are a great option for people with celiac disease and non-celiac gluten sensitivity. Cynthia Sass, Mph, Health.com, 4 Feb. 2022 More manufacturers have started producing gluten-free oats, but there’s a lot of discussion within the celiac community about just how safe each of the two methods are. Sara Chodosh, Popular Science, 10 May 2023 According to the nonprofit patient advocacy group Beyond Celiac, other symptoms of non-celiac gluten sensitivity include abdominal pain, diarrhea or constipation, nausea, headache, brain fog, joint pain, numbness in the legs, arms or fingers and fatigue. Annie Lane, oregonlive, 19 June 2020 Recently, another potential form of intolerance called non-celiac gluten sensitivity has garnered attention. Elsbeth Sites, Discover Magazine, 3 June 2014 An even larger group of people lives with non-celiac gluten sensitivity (NCGS) which causes symptoms like fatigue, nausea and bloating after eating or drinking gluten-containing foods or beverages. Caroline L. Young, Ms, Rd, Ld, Ryt, Good Housekeeping, 26 Sep. 2022 Every meal is hearty and gluten-free, making this a perfect choice for families with celiac sensitivities. Mike Richard, Men's Health, 29 Apr. 2022
Noun
Her two daughters, Emily and Kate, were diagnosed with celiac as adolescents. Matti Gellman, Kansas City Star, 19 Jan. 2024 Read on to discover 15 gluten-free gifts perfect for your friend with celiac, your cousin with a gluten intolerance, and everyone in between. Kate Kassin, Bon Appétit, 29 Nov. 2023 In addition to being sugar-free, G Hughes’ products are also gluten-free — a good choice for diabetics or those with celiac. Erin Booke, Dallas News, 7 Sep. 2023 Most people are able to manage celiac by avoiding gluten, which is found in wheat, barley and rye, but also in myriad other products, including some medications, deli meats and ice cream. Isabella Cueto, STAT, 18 Aug. 2023 The paper’s senior author, gastroenterologist Arnold Han, has studied celiac for over a decade. Isabella Cueto, STAT, 14 July 2023 As an autoimmune condition of the small intestine, celiac can cause an array of symptoms, from poor absorption of nutrients to chronic diarrhea and fatigue, brain fog, osteoporosis, and more. Isabella Cueto, STAT, 14 July 2023 But neither Wiley, her husband, or Steve had celiac in their families. Sarah Treleaven, ELLE, 27 July 2022 Because both my kids were diagnosed with celiac in childhood, my wife and I got used to eating GF, and, trust me, few restaurants do it as much and as well as Olivia’s. BostonGlobe.com, 27 Apr. 2021

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'celiac.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

Latin coeliacus, from Greek koiliakos, from koilia cavity, from koilos hollow — more at cave

First Known Use

Adjective

1662, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun

1976, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of celiac was in 1662

Dictionary Entries Near celiac

Cite this Entry

“Celiac.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/celiac. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Medical Definition

celiac

1 of 2 adjective
ce·​li·​ac
variants or chiefly British coeliac
1
: of or relating to the abdominal cavity
2
: belonging to or prescribed for celiac disease
the celiac syndrome
a celiac diet

celiac

2 of 2 noun
variants or chiefly British coeliac
: a celiac part (as a nerve)
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