pancreas

noun

pan·​cre·​as ˈpaŋ-krē-əs 

ˈpan-

: a large lobulated gland of vertebrates that secretes digestive enzymes and the hormones insulin and glucagon

pancreatic

ˌpaŋ-krē-ˈa-tik 

ˌpan-

adjective

Examples of pancreas in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The outlet reported Ronald Fenty died at the end of May at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles after suffering from a combination of acute respiratory failure, pancreas cancer, aspiration pneumonia, contributed by acute renal failure, and acute tubular necrosis. —Demicia Inman, VIBE.com, 9 July 2025

The Mayo Clinic defines Type 1 diabetes as a chronic condition that results when a person's pancreas creates little to no insulin, the hormone that helps glucose get into cells, where it's broken down. —Doha Madani, NBC news, 9 July 2025

In this condition, the pancreas makes little or no insulin. —Megan Cartwright, MSNBC Newsweek, 28 May 2025

It’s also intertwined with organs like the liver, the pancreas and fat tissue, and implicated in the progression of obesity and type 2 diabetes. —Smithsonian Magazine, 12 June 2025

Word History

Etymology

New Latin, from Greek pankreas sweetbread, from pan- + kreas flesh, meat — more at raw

First Known Use

1578, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

pancreas

noun

pan·​cre·​as ˈpaŋ-krē-əs 

ˈpan-

: a large gland of vertebrates that lies near the stomach and produces digestive enzymes and insulin

pancreatic

ˌpaŋ-krē-ˈat-ik 

ˌpan-

adjective

Medical Definition

pancreas

noun

pan·​cre·​as ˈpaŋ-krē-əs, ˈpan- 

plural pancreases also pancreata pan-ˈkrē-ət-ə 

: a large lobulated gland that in humans lies in front of the upper lumbar vertebrae and behind the stomach and is somewhat hammer-shaped and firmly attached anteriorly to the curve of the duodenum with which it communicates through one or more pancreatic ducts and that consists of (1) tubular acini secreting digestive enzymes which pass to the intestine and function in the breakdown of proteins, fats, and carbohydrates; (2) modified acinar cells that form islets of Langerhans between the tubules and secrete the hormones insulin and glucagon; and (3) a firm connective-tissue capsule that extends supportive strands into the organ