What does engorged mean?
Engorged describes something — most often a part of the body — that has become swollen because it is abnormally full of blood, another fluid, or food. A physician might describe engorged veins, an engorged tick feeds until it is engorged, and a nursing mother may experience engorged breasts. The word derives from the verb 'to engorge', meaning to swallow greedily or to fill to excess, and ultimately traces back through Old French to the Latin 'gurges', a whirlpool or abyss. In register, engorged is chiefly clinical and scientific: it appears constantly in medical writing and biology but rarely in casual conversation, where plainer words like 'swollen' would usually be chosen. Its connotation is precise and descriptive rather than emotional, conveying congestion and distension without implying disease by itself — though in medical contexts it can signal inflammation or circulatory problems. It is a useful word when accuracy about the cause of swelling matters, distinguishing fullness with blood or fluid from swelling caused by injury alone.
adjectiveSwollen with blood, fluid, or food; congested to the point of distension. Most often used of body parts or tissues swollen with blood or liquid.
- (Of body tissue or an organ) swollen with blood or other fluid; congested and distended.
- (More generally) filled or swollen to excess, especially with food.
"The doctor noted that the patient's veins were visibly engorged after the tourniquet was applied."
"Mosquitoes fly away visibly engorged after feeding."
"The leech detached once it was fully engorged with blood."
The same Latin root that gives us 'gourmand' — someone who gorges on food — also gives us 'engorged', a word doctors use for tissue swollen with blood.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of engorged
Engorged is the adjectival form of the verb 'engorge', which entered English from Old French 'engorgier' ('to swallow greedily'), itself built on 'gorge' ('throat') from Late Latin 'gurga', likely related to Latin 'gurges' ('whirlpool'). Originally the verb meant to devour or swallow greedily, and its sense extended to filling any vessel or tissue to excess. Cognates sharing this root include 'gorge', 'disgorge', and 'regurgitate', all of which preserve the idea of the throat or swallowing.
Related word forms
How engorged is actually used
Primarily a clinical, medical, or scientific register — common in medicine (e.g. engorged tissues, engorged breasts in lactation), entomology, and veterinary contexts. It carries a neutral-to-slightly clinical rather than emotive connotation, though it can sound graphic in everyday description.
Easily confused with engorged
Engrossed means fully absorbed or occupied in attention (e.g. 'engrossed in a book'), whereas engorged means physically swollen or congested with fluid.