English Reference

Word

gastric

Phoneticsgas·tric

US/ˈɡæstɹɪk/

UK/ɡˈɑːstɹɪk/

Definition

adj. relating to the stomach. Doctors use this word when talking about how your body digests food or about stomach pain.

adj. relating to or associated with the stomach. Typically used in medical or biological contexts to describe organs, fluids, or disorders within the digestive system.

Examples

“He went to the doctor for gastric pain.”

“The patient was diagnosed with a gastric ulcer after complaining of persistent discomfort after meals.”

“Gastric bypass surgery remains a significant medical intervention for chronic obesity, as it physically alters the digestive process to limit caloric intake and absorption.”

Examples

simple

“He went to the doctor for gastric pain.”

contextual

“The patient was diagnosed with a gastric ulcer after complaining of persistent discomfort after meals.”

complex

“Gastric bypass surgery remains a significant medical intervention for chronic obesity, as it physically alters the digestive process to limit caloric intake and absorption.”

Usage

Typically used attributively before a noun.

Real-World Examples

“Men with CVD also had an increased risk of dying from gastric, oesophageal and lung cancers compared with those without heart disease.”
The Guardian · 21 Aug 2026
“Certain cancer types, including gastric, liver, bone and lung cancer, had particularly high rates of flagged studies.”
ScienceDaily · 16 Jul 2026

Etymology

From New Latin gastricus, from Ancient Greek γαστήρ, γαστρός (gastḗr, gastrós, “stomach”). By surface analysis, gastr- + -ic; Doublet of gastrique.

Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

This entry

Level
C1 · Advanced
Frequency
Frequent
Updated

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English Reference