gastrointestinal

adjective

gas·​tro·​in·​tes·​ti·​nal ˌga-strō-in-ˈte-stə-nᵊl 

-ˈtes(t)-nəl

: of, relating to, affecting, or including both stomach and intestine

Examples of gastrointestinal in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Can drinking a cup of steaming hot water improve your digestion and keep things moving along in your gastrointestinal (GI) tract? —Julia Ries Wexler, Outside, 4 Feb. 2026

Other forms of iron in iron supplements include heme iron polypeptides (HIP), carbonyl iron, iron amino-acid chelates, and polysaccharide-iron complexes (PIC), which have fewer gastrointestinal side effects when compared to the ferric and ferrous salts. —Bestreviews, Mercury News, 4 Feb. 2026

Norovirus is often associated with gastrointestinal illness on cruise ships. —Kelly McGreal, FOXNews.com, 4 Feb. 2026

Both supplements can cause gastrointestinal side effects, which can be minimized by taking them with food. —Jessica Swirble, Verywell Health, 4 Feb. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1831, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing gastrointestinal

• gastrointestinal tract

Rhymes for gastrointestinal

• intestinal

Kids Definition

gastrointestinal

adjective

gas·​tro·​in·​tes·​ti·​nal ˌgas-trō-in-ˈtes-tən-ᵊl 

: of, relating to, or including both stomach and intestine

Medical Definition

gastrointestinal

adjective

gas·​tro·​in·​tes·​ti·​nal ˌgas-trō-in-ˈtes-tən-ᵊl, -ˈtes(t)-nəl 

: of, relating to, or affecting both stomach and intestine

gastrointestinal distress