What does vomitive mean?
Vomitive is an uncommon English word with both adjective and noun uses. As an adjective, it describes something that induces vomiting; as a noun, it refers to an emetic, especially a medicine or substance deliberately used to empty the stomach. The word is most often encountered in medical, pharmacological, or deliberately literary English, where it may sound old-fashioned or technical. In contemporary usage, emetic is generally the more familiar and direct term, while vomitive can add a formal or descriptive flavour. The distinction matters in discussions of poison treatment, where inducing vomiting is no longer routinely recommended and may itself be dangerous. Because the word is uncommon, it is easily misread as a form of vomit, but vomitive names an agent or effect that causes vomiting rather than the expelled material or the act itself. It is therefore useful chiefly in specialized discussion, historical prose, and word-focused writing.
A substance, medicine, or agent that induces vomiting; an emetic.
"The doctor rejected the unknown liquid when it proved to be a potent vomitive."
This noun use is uncommon and is chiefly found in medical, pharmacological, or historical contexts.
Causing or inducing vomiting.
"The researchers recorded the compound's strongly vomitive effect."
Usually formal, medical, or literary; emetic is the standard contemporary alternative.
The plural is used for substances, medicines, or agents that cause vomiting, although the noun itself is uncommon.
"Several strong vomitives were used in the historical treatment of poisoning."
A vomitive does not vomit—it makes vomiting happen.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does vomitive come from?
English vomitive comes from Medieval Latin vomitivus, meaning “causing vomiting,” and ultimately from Latin vomere, “to vomit.” The same Latin root underlies English vomit, the medical term vomitus, and related forms such as vomitory.
How vomitive is actually used
The word is uncommon in contemporary English and is most often encountered in medical, pharmacological, or deliberately literary contexts. It can sound old-fashioned or technical, and emetic is usually the more familiar modern term.
Easily confused with vomitive
Vomit is the material expelled from the stomach or the act of expelling it, whereas a vomitive is something that causes vomiting.