flatus

noun

fla·​tus ˈflā-təs How to pronounce flatus (audio)
: gas generated in the stomach or bowels

Examples of flatus in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
This puckish presentation may not be for those who feign at flatus. Natasha Gural, Forbes, 12 Jan. 2025 In one experiment, about half of people who ate chocolate bars containing 32 grams of a polyol called sorbitol suffered from diarrhea, flatus, stomach aches, and bloating. Patrick Wilson, Outside Online, 7 Aug. 2020 Trump’s flatus into a law-enforcement crusade. Adam Weinstein, The New Republic, 2 June 2020 However, old fart could also mean that elderly individuals pass flatus more often. Seriously Science, Discover Magazine, 7 Mar. 2018

Word History

Etymology

Latin, act of blowing, act of breaking wind

First Known Use

1651, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of flatus was in 1651

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Flatus.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/flatus. Accessed 9 Sep. 2025.

Medical Definition

flatus

noun
fla·​tus ˈflāt-əs How to pronounce flatus (audio)
: gas generated in the stomach or bowels

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