intestinal

adjective

in·​tes·​ti·​nal in-ˈte-stə-nᵊl 

-ˈtes(t)-nəl,

-ˈte-sᵊn-əl,

 British often  ˌin-(ˌ)te-ˈstī-nᵊl

1

: affecting, occurring, or living in the intestine

2

: of, relating to, or being the intestine

intestinally adverb

Examples of intestinal in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Lisa Marie, who died on Jan. 12, 2023, from an intestinal blockage at 54 years old, was the sole beneficiary of her father Elvis Presley's estate. —Kimi Robinson, USA Today, 13 Aug. 2025

Jennifer Bryant, 25, the manager of Chaparral Ranch, faces a misdemeanor count of failing to provide an animal with proper care after a horse named Honey was found emaciated, unable to stand and infested with intestinal worms, prosecutors said. —Caelyn Pender, Mercury News, 8 Aug. 2025

Wen: There are a variety of antiparasitic medications approved by the FDA to treat intestinal worm infections. —Faye Chiu, CNN Money, 6 Aug. 2025

While enemas can unclog things quite effectively, using them too often can disrupt your intestinal lining and electrolyte and water balance. —Bruce Y. Lee, Forbes.com, 12 July 2025

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing intestinal

• intestinal fortitude

Rhymes for intestinal

• gastrointestinal

Kids Definition

intestinal

adjective

in·​tes·​ti·​nal in-ˈtes-tən-ᵊl 

1

: of or relating to the intestine

2

: affecting or occurring in the intestine

intestinally

-ē

adverb

Medical Definition

intestinal

adjective

in·​tes·​ti·​nal

in-ˈtes-tən-ᵊl, -ˈtes(t)-nəl, -ˈtes-ᵊn-əl, British often ˌin-(ˌ)tes-ˈtīn-ᵊl

1

a

: affecting or occurring in the intestine

intestinal digestion

intestinal catarrh

b

: living in the intestine

the intestinal flora

an intestinal worm

2

: of, relating to, or being the intestine

the intestinal canal

intestinally

-ē 

adverb