somatic

adjective

so·​mat·​ic sō-ˈma-tik 

sə-

1

: of, relating to, or affecting the body especially as distinguished from the germplasm

2

: of or relating to the wall of the body : parietal

somatically

sō-ˈma-ti-k(ə-)lē 

sə-

adverb

Synonyms

• animal
• bodily
• carnal
• corporal
• corporeal
• fleshly
• material
• physical

Examples of somatic in a Sentence

a somatic disorder that was once thought to be “all in the patient's head”

Recent Examples on the Web

Her approach to stress and trauma aligns with a growing body of work in the somatic therapy field, which focuses on how the body stores and processes stress. —Melissa Fleur Afshar, MSNBC Newsweek, 23 June 2025

Yoga, breathwork and dance are all forms of somatic movement. —Renée Onque, CNBC, 14 June 2025

That’s where somatic approaches to healing come in. —Kathleen Ferraro, SELF, 4 June 2025

In addition to his private practice, Dr. Kroner is a clinician at The Reconnect Trauma Center, providing services in somatic acupuncture, mindfulness training, and metabolic health. —Jennifer Klump, Verywell Health, 30 May 2025

Word History

Etymology

Greek sōmatikos, from sōmat-, sōma

First Known Use

circa 1775, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing somatic

• somatic cell
• somatic symptom disorder

Rhymes for somatic

• asthmatic
• chromatic
• climatic
• dogmatic
• dramatic
• ecstatic
• emphatic
• erratic
• eustatic
• fanatic
• hepatic
• lymphatic

Kids Definition

somatic

adjective

so·​mat·​ic sō-ˈmat-ik 

sə-

: of, relating to, or affecting the body especially as compared to the mind or the tissue producing the germ cells

Medical Definition

somatic

adjective

so·​mat·​ic sō-ˈmat-ik, sə- 

1

a

: of, relating to, or affecting the body especially as distinguished from the germplasm : physical

b

: of, relating to, supplying, or involving skeletal muscles

the somatic nervous system

a somatic reflex

2

: of or relating to the wall of the body as distinguished from the viscera : parietal

somatically

-i-k(ə-)lē 

adverb