esophagus

noun

esoph·​a·​gus i-ˈsä-fə-gəs 

plural esophagi i-ˈsä-fə-ˌgī  -ˌjī 

: a muscular tube that conveys food from the mouth to the stomach and that in humans is about nine inches (23 centimeters) long and passes from the pharynx down the neck between the trachea and the spinal column and behind the left bronchus where it pierces the diaphragm slightly to the left of the middle line and joins the cardiac end of the stomach

esophageal

i-ˌsä-fə-ˈjē-əl 

adjective

Examples of esophagus in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

By middle age, many esophagus clones—often making up the bulk of esophagus tissue—have mutations disrupting a gene called NOTCH1. —Amber Dance, Smithsonian Magazine, 17 Jan. 2025

Smoking tobacco may double your risk of having abnormal cells in the lining of the stomach and esophagus. —Sayaka Blickenderfer, Phd, Health, 16 Jan. 2025

Small fragments can cause laceration and punctures to digestive organs, such as the esophagus, stomach or intestines, while metallic particles can become lodged in a person's throat and airways. —Yaakov Katz, Newsweek, 12 Jan. 2025

As the surgeon general’s report highlights, alcohol is associated with approximately 100,000 cancer cases and 20,000 cancer deaths every year, playing a role in breast, liver, colorectal, mouth, throat, esophagus and voice box cancer cases. —Nikki Crowley, The Conversation, 10 Jan. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English ysophagus, from Medieval Latin ysofugus, from Greek oisophagos, from oisein to be going to carry + phagein to eat — more at baksheesh

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

esophagus

noun

esoph·​a·​gus i-ˈsäf-ə-gəs 

plural esophagi -ˌgī 

-ˌjī

: a muscular tube that leads from the cavity behind the mouth to the stomach

esophageal

-ˌsäf-ə-ˈjē-əl 

adjective

Medical Definition

esophagus

noun

esoph·​a·​gus

variants or chiefly British oesophagus

i-ˈsäf-ə-gəs 

plural esophagi -ˌgī  -ˌjī 

: a muscular tube that in adult humans is about nine inches (23 centimeters) long and passes from the pharynx down the neck between the trachea and the spinal column and behind the left bronchus where it pierces the diaphragm slightly to the left of the middle line and joins the cardiac end of the stomach