paunch

noun

ˈpȯnch 

ˈpänch

1

a

: the belly and its contents

b

: potbelly

2

: rumen

Synonyms of paunch

• belly
• stomach
• corporation
• potbelly

Examples of paunch in a Sentence

He sat with his hands folded over his paunch.

He used to be very thin but now he has a slight paunch.

Recent Examples on the Web

He had been hit a month or so before, but he had only been clipped across the paunch and the wound was healed. — Jack O'Connor, Outdoor Life, 24 Sep. 2025

There is a funny thread of everyone thinking Woody’s getting a bit old – rocking a paunch and a poncho – while Buzz pines for Jessie. — Brian Truitt, USA Today, 16 June 2026

The display ends and Prabowo strolls the ranks of recruits, asking their home province, their university major, and razzing a couple of the stoutest about their paunch. — Charlie Campbell / Jakarta, TIME, 14 Oct. 2024

When Jurgensen reported to camp in unusually good shape, his trademark paunch having shrunk, he was asked if the key was diet and exercise. — Mike Sando, New York Times, 9 Feb. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Anglo-French *panche, pance, from Latin pantic-, pantex

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Rhymes for paunch

• conch
• haunch
• launch
• staunch
• protoconch

Kids Definition

paunch

noun

ˈpȯnch 

ˈpänch

1

: the belly together with its contents

2

: potbelly sense 1

Medical Definition

paunch

noun

ˈpȯnch, ˈpänch 

: rumen