spastic colon

noun

: irritable bowel syndrome
also : a colon affected with spasms

Word History

First Known Use

1929, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of spastic colon was in 1929

Dictionary Entries Near spastic colon

Cite this Entry

“Spastic colon.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/spastic%20colon. Accessed 7 Nov. 2024.

Medical Definition

spastic colon

noun
: irritable bowel syndrome
Sometimes, folks with celiac sprue are misdiagnosed as having irritable bowel syndrome (spastic colon).Mitchell Hecht, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
also : a colon affected with spasms
She was excused from the jury, as was a Melville man who said he suffers from a nervous, spastic colon and feared sitting on the jury would take a toll on his health. Alfonso A. Castillo, Newsday
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