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

In rare cases, excessive intake can also contribute to intestinal blockage. —Daryl Austin, USA Today, 1 Dec. 2025

More exposure will increase the severity of a reaction and even lead to permanent intestinal damage. —Nicki Cox, PEOPLE, 29 Nov. 2025

Long-term use and overuse of probiotics can cause small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO). —Stephanie Brown, Verywell Health, 27 Nov. 2025

After a few months of this, the wood-board group was doing fine, but the mice with food cut on plastic boards had more intestinal inflammation and disturbed gut bacteria. —Matt Fuchs, Time, 24 Nov. 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