# abdomen

/ˈæbdəmən/ (US) · /ˈæbdəmən/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/abdomen
Updated: 2026-05-01

## Senses

### 1. the belly area

noun · CEFR B2 · Technical

the part of your body between your chest and your hips that contains your stomach and other organs.

For teachers: the region of the body between the thorax and the pelvis, containing the digestive and reproductive organs.

- The patient complained of a sharp pain in his lower abdomen after eating.
- The surgeon made a small incision in the lower abdomen to access the appendix while minimizing damage to the surrounding muscle tissue.

Usage: In medical contexts, it refers specifically to the cavity; in everyday English, 'stomach' is more common.

### 2. in insects and spiders

noun · CEFR C1 · Technical

the back part of an insect's or spider's body.

For teachers: the posterior section of the body in arthropods, located behind the thorax or cephalothorax.

- You can identify this spider by the bright red spot on its abdomen.
- The wasp's abdomen is connected to the thorax by a narrow waist, allowing for significant flexibility when the insect uses its stinger.

---

From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.