stomach bug

noun

variants or less commonly stomach flu

plural stomach bugs also stomach flus

: a nonspecific usually contagious gastrointestinal illness that is marked by nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain and cramping : gastroenteritis usually caused by a virus (such as a norovirus or rotavirus)

… suffering from a stomach bug and shin splints …

—Sally Jenkins

… middle-of-the-night emergencies: pesky high fevers, dehydration, stomach flus.

—Michael L. Diamond

—not used technically

Examples of stomach bug in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Just when the Athletics were finally starting to get healthy again, a stomach bug came biting. — Sean Campbell, Sacbee.com, 9 July 2026

The intestinal problems often last longer than typical food poisoning or stomach bugs, which can indicate a sick person should go to the hospital. — Eva Flowe july 8, Charlotte Observer, 8 July 2026

Cyclosporiasis does not spread from person to person, unlike norovirus, a highly contagious stomach bug that usually runs its course in a few days. — Erika Edwards, NBC news, 7 July 2026

Even healthy people can see this stomach bug continue for weeks. — Brenda Goodman, CNN Money, 7 July 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1920, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for stomach bug

• antidrug
• mealybug
• multidrug
• chug
• doug
• drug
• dug
• hug
• jug
• lug
• mug
• plug