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

Sidhwa said that one of his last patients that night was a sixteen-year-old boy named Ibrahim, who had sustained intestinal injuries from shrapnel. —Clayton Dalton, New Yorker, 18 Apr. 2025

In mid-March, a judge in Missouri ordered a re-trial in a case that Abbott and its rival Reckitt won in November , beating back allegations that their specialized formulas for premature babies caused a severe intestinal illness known as necrotizing enterocolitis, or NEC. —Kevin Stankiewicz, CNBC, 16 Apr. 2025

Vitamin D receptors help your gut produce tight junctions to maintain your intestinal barrier. —Cristina Palacios, The Conversation, 3 Apr. 2025

The Monkey in mere intestinal yardage, but their greatest leverage is their leanness: Blood and guts, on repeat. —Madison Bloom, Pitchfork, 7 Feb. 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