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

This symptom is often caused by a backup of acidic fluid from the stomach into the esophagus. —Smita Patel, Verywell Health, 26 Apr. 2025

Alcohol has no health benefits according to the American Public Health Association and is linked to a number of cancers, including but not limited to cancers of the throat, esophagus, breast, liver and colon. —Omer Awan, Forbes.com, 8 Apr. 2025

The resident’s first attempt missed—the tube was in the esophagus. —Ayesha Khan, The New Yorker, 17 Mar. 2025

Without treatment, EoE can increase the risk of food getting caught in your esophagus. —Lindsay Curtis, Health, 24 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

Rhymes for esophagus

• phytophagous
• sarcophagus
• oesophagus

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