vagus nerve

noun

va·​gus nerve ˈvā-gəs- How to pronounce vagus nerve (audio)
: either of the 10th pair of cranial nerves that arise from the medulla oblongata and supply chiefly the viscera especially with autonomic sensory and motor fibers

called also vagus

Examples of vagus nerve in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Pulsetto’s vagus nerve stimulator is one of an emerging category of at-home consumer devices promising to regulate the nervous system and brain. — Amy O’Brien, Vogue, 3 Nov. 2026 Adrenaline rises, the sympathetic nervous system ramps up, and the calming influence of the vagus nerve drops. — Elizabeth Cooney, STAT, 30 Oct. 2026 Some see promise in manipulating the gut microbiome; others are exploring the potential of stimulating the vagus nerve, eliciting a psychedelic experience or repurposing drugs that might quiet inflammation in the brain. — Lynne Peeples, New York Times, 28 Oct. 2026 What used to be sold as a puffiness fix is now marketed as nervous system therapy, with the vagus nerve name-checked in product copy, TikTok tutorials and dermatology explainers. — Samantha Agate, Miami Herald, 1 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for vagus nerve

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from New Latin vagus nervus, literally, "wandering nerve,"; so called from its multiplicity of connecting points in the neck, thorax, and abdomen — more at vague

First Known Use

1856, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of vagus nerve was in 1856

Rhymes for vagus nerve

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Browse Nearby Words

vaguish
vagus nerve
Váh
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Cite this Entry

“Vagus nerve.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/vagus%20nerve. Accessed 5 Nov. 2026.

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Medical Definition

vagus nerve

noun
: either of the tenth pair of cranial nerves that arise from the medulla and supply chiefly the viscera especially with autonomic sensory and motor fibers

called also pneumogastric nerve, tenth cranial nerve, vagus

More from Merriam-Webster on vagus nerve

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about vagus nerve

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