noun
esophagus
ih-SOF-uh-gus
Esophagus (noun) means the tube that carries food and drink from the throat down to the stomach. Example: “The doctor examined his esophagus after he complained of heartburn.”
noun
1
The tube that carries food and drink from the throat down to the stomach.
"The doctor examined his esophagus after he complained of heartburn."
"Food travels down the esophagus into the stomach."
"Acid reflux can irritate the lining of the esophagus."
How to use esophagus
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishThe tube food travels down on its way to your stomach.
When to use it
It is a medical and scientific term used in both clinical and everyday health contexts.
Memory tip
If you're writing for American readers use esophagus; for British readers use oesophagus.
Trace the full origin ↓
Easily confused with
Common pairings
lining of the esophagus
lower esophagus
esophagus and stomach
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Fill the gap
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The doctor examined his _____ after he complained of heartburn.
Etymology
Esophagus is simply the American spelling of oesophagus; no separate word history applies to it beyond that spelling difference within English.
Synonyms
View more →Related words
Rhymes for esophagus
See all rhymes for esophagus →Frequently asked questions
What does esophagus mean?
It is the tube in the body that carries food and drink from the throat to the stomach.
Is esophagus the same as oesophagus?
Yes, esophagus is simply the American spelling of oesophagus; they refer to the same body part.
Why do British and American English spell it differently?
American English tends to drop the extra 'o' at the start of words like this, giving esophagus where British English keeps oesophagus.
What is the meaning of esophagus?
"esophagus" (noun) means the tube that carries food and drink from the throat down to the stomach.
