stomach bug
noun
variants
or less commonly stomach flu
plural stomach bugs also stomach flus
: a nonspecific usually contagious gastrointestinal illness that is marked by nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain and cramping : gastroenteritis usually caused by a virus (such as a norovirus or rotavirus)
… suffering from a stomach bug and shin splints …—
Sally Jenkins
Sally Jenkins… middle-of-the-night emergencies: pesky high fevers, dehydration, stomach flus.—Michael L. Diamond
—not used technically
Michael L. DiamondExamples of stomach bug in a Sentence
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Often referred to as a stomach flu or stomach bug, rotavirus infection can cause extreme diarrhea, leading to severe dehydration and hospitalization.
—Annette Regan, The Conversation, 22 Apr. 2026
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Annette Regan, The Conversation, 22 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Stomach bug.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/stomach%20bug. Accessed 2 May. 2026.
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