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Synonyms

abdomen

American  
[ab-duh-muhn, ab-doh-] / ˈæb də mən, æbˈdoʊ- /

noun

  1. Anatomy, Zoology.

    1. the part of the body of a mammal between the thorax and the pelvis; belly.

    2. the cavity of this part of the body containing the stomach, intestines, etc.

    3. (in nonmammalian vertebrates) a region of the body corresponding to, but not coincident with, this part or cavity.

  2. Entomology. the posterior section of the body of an arthropod, behind the thorax or the cephalothorax.

abdomen British  
/ æbˈdɒmɪnəl, æbˈdəʊ-, ˈæbdəmən /

noun

  1. the region of the body of a vertebrate that contains the viscera other than the heart and lungs. In mammals it is separated from the thorax by the diaphragm

  2. the front or surface of this region; belly

  3. (in arthropods) the posterior part of the body behind the thorax, consisting of up to ten similar segments

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
abdomen Scientific  
/ ăb′də-mən /

  1. In vertebrates, the portion of the body between the thorax and pelvis, containing the stomach, intestines, liver, and other organs. In mammals, the abdomen is separated from the thorax by the diaphragm.

  2. In arthropods, the last, most posterior segment of the body.

abdomen Cultural  

  1. The part of the body between the thorax (chest) and pelvis that encloses the organs of the abdominal cavity; the belly.

Other Word Forms

  • abdominal adjective
  • abdominally adverb
  • postabdomen noun

Etymology

Origin of abdomen

1535–45; (< Middle French ) < Latin abdōmen belly

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

At the clinic in Próspera, doctors administered a simple one-time injection into Scott’s abdomen, monitored him for a day to check for adverse effects, then discharged him.

From Slate • Mar. 30, 2026

As nearby bees observe, the dancer moves forward while shaking its abdomen, then circles back and repeats the pattern within seconds.

From Science Daily • Mar. 24, 2026

Bolsonaro has suffered from recurring health issues since being stabbed in the abdomen during a campaign event in 2018.

From Barron's • Mar. 13, 2026

In early 2024, Kate underwent a procedure on her abdomen during which doctors discovered cancer.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 11, 2026

The warrior gazed out across a teeming cityscape that crossed Robbie’s abdomen and wrapped around his back.

From "Shadowshaper" by Daniel José Older

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.