celiac

adjective
ce·​li·​ac | \ ˈsē-lē-ˌak How to pronounce celiac (audio) \
variants: or chiefly British coeliac

Definition of celiac

 (Entry 1 of 2)

1 : of or relating to the abdominal cavity
2 : relating to or used for celiac disease a celiac diet

celiac

noun
variants: or chiefly British coeliac
plural celiacs

Definition of celiac (Entry 2 of 2)

: a person affected with celiac disease Many celiacs bounce from doctor to doctor for help with symptoms that stubbornly defy treatment.— David P. Hamilton

Examples of celiac in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web: Adjective

In years past, non-celiac gluten sensitivity (NCGS) wasn't taken very seriously, including by a wide swath of the medical community. Carolyn Todd, Allure, "How to Tell If You Have Non-Celiac Gluten Sensitivity," 21 May 2018 Non-celiac gluten sensitivity: This sensitivity often is diagnosed when doctors rule out celiac disease and a wheat allergy but recognize there is a medical concern present. Hannah Drown, cleveland.com, "How many people really need to avoid gluten in their diet?," 3 Apr. 2018 That said, non-celiac gluten sensitivity is still a pretty misunderstood condition. Christine Byrne, SELF, "16 Delicious Gluten-Free Products You Can Buy at the Supermarket," 22 Sep. 2017 But what if this newfound awareness triggers concern that your child may be suffering from celiac disease? Hannah Drown, cleveland.com, "What to do if you suspect your child has celiac disease: Gluten-Free in the CLE," 29 Aug. 2017 Whole-grain vs. gluten-free bread: Gluten-free foods were created for people with celiac disease or gluten sensitivity. Cara Rosenbloom, charlotteobserver, "The lies you’re fed: 6 ‘healthy’ foods that aren’t," 22 Aug. 2017 The directive is of particular importance to Catholics with celiac disease, who may become severely ill after eating even small amounts of gluten. Brigit Katz, Smithsonian, "Vatican Vetoes Gluten-Free Communion Wafers," 12 July 2017 People with celiac disease, an autoimmune disorder where gluten can lead to damage in the small intestine, avoid foods with the protein found in grains like wheat, rye and barley. Sarah Pulliam Bailey, Washington Post, "The Catholic Church says no to gluten-free communion. Here’s why.," 11 July 2017 A main disadvantage of self-treatment without a diagnosis is that an accurate result of the tests for celiac disease requires that the person regularly consumes gluten. Jane E. Brody, New York Times, "Who Really Needs to Be Gluten-Free?," 19 June 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'celiac.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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First Known Use of celiac

Adjective

1662, in the meaning defined above

Noun

1976, in the meaning defined above

History and Etymology for celiac

Adjective

Latin coeliacus, from Greek koiliakos, from koilia cavity, from koilos hollow — more at cave

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More Definitions for celiac

celiac

adjective
ce·​li·​ac
variants: or chiefly British coeliac \ ˈsē-​lē-​ˌak How to pronounce coeliac (audio) \

Medical Definition of celiac

 (Entry 1 of 2)

1 : of or relating to the abdominal cavity
2 : belonging to or prescribed for celiac disease the celiac syndrome a celiac diet

celiac

noun
variants: or chiefly British coeliac

Medical Definition of celiac (Entry 2 of 2)

: a celiac part (as a nerve)