Why Doctors Call Farts 'Flatulence' (And You Should Too)

Next time you're holding in gas during a business meeting, you can at least feel sophisticated knowing you're experiencing flatulence—the official medical term for passing gas. While most of us stick with informal terms like "farting," "passing wind," or "cutting the cheese," the medical community prefers this much more dignified Latin-derived word.

The term comes from the Latin word flatus, meaning "a blowing" or "a breaking wind." It specifically refers to the presence of excessive gas in the stomach or intestine, and the subsequent expulsion of that gas through the anus. So yes, when your doctor asks about flatulence, they're professionally inquiring about your farts.

You're Gassier Than You Think

Here's something that might surprise you: farting up to 25 times per day is considered perfectly normal by the National Institutes of Health. Your intestines produce between 500 and 2,000 milliliters of gas daily—that's up to two liters of gas that needs to go somewhere. Some researchers define "excessive flatulence" as passing gas more than 20 times per day, which means most people are teetering right on the edge of "excessive" just by being alive.

The gas itself is primarily composed of hydrogen, methane, and carbon dioxide. Despite what you might think, most intestinal gas isn't swallowed air—it's actually produced by bacterial fermentation in your gastrointestinal tract, especially in the colon. Those helpful bacteria breaking down your food create gas as a byproduct, which is why certain foods (beans, we're looking at you) cause more flatulence than others.

When Flatulence Becomes a Problem

While passing gas is normal, sometimes flatulence comes with uncomfortable companions like bloating, abdominal pain, or eructation (the medical term for belching). Excessive gas can signal food intolerances, digestive disorders, or simply that you've been eating too much fiber too quickly.

The beauty of having a medical term like "flatulence" is that it allows people to discuss a natural bodily function without embarrassment in clinical settings. It's much easier to tell your doctor you're experiencing flatulence than to mumble awkwardly about how you "can't stop farting."

So the next time someone lets one rip, you can politely correct them: "Excuse me, I believe you mean you're experiencing flatulence." They probably won't appreciate the vocabulary lesson, but at least you'll know you're being medically accurate.