abdomen
8 synonyms for abdomen, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Noun — The part of the body between the chest and the pelvis, containing the stomach and other digestive organs.
Synonyms
Everyday swaps
Common words most readers know — safe in any writing.
Less common
Still standard English, but they carry more weight.
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
Etymology
From Latin abdōmen, possibly related to abdō ("to conceal"), from ab- ("away") and -dō ("put, place").
Full origin of abdomen →Frequently asked questions
What does “abdomen” mean?
The word “abdomen” means the part of the body between the chest and the pelvis, containing the stomach and other digestive organs. In plain terms, the medical term for the belly area of the body.
How do you pronounce “abdomen”?
“Abdomen” is pronounced AB-duh-muhn (/ˈæb.də.mən/ in IPA).
How do you use “abdomen” in a sentence?
Here is “abdomen” used in a sentence: “The doctor pressed gently on his abdomen to check for tenderness.”
What part of speech is “abdomen”?
“Abdomen” is a noun.
Where does the word “abdomen” come from?
The word “abdomen” comes from Latin. From Latin abdōmen, possibly related to abdō ("to conceal"), from ab- ("away") and -dō ("put, place").
Is “abdomen” a common word?
“Abdomen” is an uncommon word in modern English.
How many meanings does “abdomen” have?
“Abdomen” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: the part of the body between the chest and the pelvis, containing the stomach and other digestive organs.
What is the difference between the abdomen and the stomach?
The abdomen is the entire region of the body between the chest and the pelvis, while the stomach is just one organ located inside that region. People often say "stomach" loosely to mean the whole abdominal area, but technically the stomach is only the digestive organ that holds food after swallowing.
Is abdomen a formal or clinical word compared to belly?
Abdomen is the more formal and clinical term, commonly used in medical, anatomical, and scientific contexts. Belly and stomach are the everyday, informal words people use in casual conversation for the same general area.
Does abdomen mean the same thing in insects as in humans?
No. In humans, the abdomen is the section of the body containing the stomach and other digestive organs. In insects and other arthropods, the abdomen instead refers to the rear body segment located behind the thorax.
