English Reference

Word

gastrointestinal

Phoneticsgas·troin·testi·nal

US/ˌɡæstɹoʊɪnˈtɛstənəɫ/

UK/ɡˈæstɹɔɪntˌɛstɪnəl/

Definition

adj. relating to the stomach and the intestines. You use this word when talking about the parts of your body that digest food.

adj. relating to the stomach and the intestines. Typically describes the organs, processes, or disorders of the digestive system.

Examples

“He went to the doctor for a gastrointestinal checkup.”

“The patient reported severe gastrointestinal distress after eating the contaminated seafood.”

“Modern medicine has developed various non-invasive techniques to monitor gastrointestinal health, allowing doctors to identify inflammation in the digestive tract without surgery.”

Examples

simple

“He went to the doctor for a gastrointestinal checkup.”

contextual

“The patient reported severe gastrointestinal distress after eating the contaminated seafood.”

complex

“Modern medicine has developed various non-invasive techniques to monitor gastrointestinal health, allowing doctors to identify inflammation in the digestive tract without surgery.”

Usage

Typically used in medical or scientific contexts; often appears before nouns like 'tract', 'disorder', or 'health'.

Real-World Examples

Common in science writing

“During droughts in East Africa, for example, watering holes have become hotspots for gastrointestinal nematode transmission among herbivores.”
Phys.org · 16 Aug 2026
“The study identified gastrointestinal changes that occur shortly after the astronauts leave Earth and gravity behind.”
Phys.org · 14 Aug 2026

Word family

gastrointestinalAdjectiveintestinalAdjectiveintestineNoun

This entry

Level
C1 · Advanced
Frequency
Frequent
Updated

Scan code

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English Reference