What does gassy mean?
Gassy is an informal adjective that can describe either excess gas in the digestive system or a drink containing carbonation. Used of a person, it usually means prone to passing gas and often carries a humorous, mildly discourteous connotation. In descriptions of beer, wine, or soft drinks, it means fizzy or effervescent and is usually neutral. The word is common in both British and American English, though it is more conversational than formal. Its usefulness lies in its ability to express these related ideas compactly: a person can feel gassy, a stomach can be gassy, and a beverage can be gassy. It is also associated with the scientific word gas, linking an ordinary digestive complaint and the bubbles in a carbonated drink through the same basic idea of contained gas.
adjectiveContaining gas, especially likely to cause flatulence; also used of drinks that are effervescent or full of carbonation.
- Having or likely to produce flatulence; affected by excess gas in the digestive system.
- Containing gas or carbonation, especially as a description of a drink.
- Having a gaseous or gas-filled quality.
"After the fizzy drink, he felt distinctly gassy."
"The carbonated lunch left her feeling gassy for the rest of the afternoon."
"She ordered a gassy lager with dinner."
A gassy pint and a gassy dog share the same word, but not the same kind of gas.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does gassy come from?
Gassy is an English formation from gas with the suffix -y, meaning “full of gas” or “flatulent.” The English word gas was borrowed through Latin from Greek khásos, associated with vapor or an empty space. Related English forms include gaseous, gasify, and gasification, all sharing the same historical root.
Related word forms
How gassy is actually used
Gassy is informal and often humorous or mildly rude when describing a person. In food and drink contexts, especially with beer or wine, it is generally neutral and refers to effervescent carbonation.
Easily confused with gassy
Gaseous means existing in the form of a gas, whereas gassy can describe something filled with gas, a person prone to flatulence, or an effervescent drink.