somatic

adjective

so·​mat·​ic sō-ˈma-tik 

sə-

1

: of, relating to, or affecting the body especially as distinguished from the germplasm

2

: of or relating to the wall of the body : parietal

somatically

sō-ˈma-ti-k(ə-)lē 

sə-

adverb

Synonyms

• animal
• bodily
• carnal
• corporal
• corporeal
• fleshly
• material
• physical

Examples of somatic in a Sentence

a somatic disorder that was once thought to be “all in the patient's head”

Recent Examples on the Web

Employees who are well-supported by managers were 25% less likely to struggle with somatic symptoms of stress, 33% less likely to have a hard time getting motivated in the morning and 56% less likely to have high work stress. —Bryan Robinson, Forbes, 26 Sep. 2024

Camille is a Social Imagineer, artist and somatic facilitator who is the author of Tending Grief, a book that shares embodied rituals for holding our sorrow and growing cultures of care in community. —Evie Muir, refinery29.com, 5 Sep. 2024

Some will seek to maintain a distinction between acceptable somatic genetic manipulation for therapeutic reasons on the one hand and banned genetic enhancements or heritable, germ-line manipulations on the other. —Jamie F. Metzl, Foreign Affairs, 10 Oct. 2014

The author, whose work pulls from psychology, meditation and somatic practices, draws on her decades of client experience to uncover how to build toward rewarding relationships. —Carly Tagen-Dye, Peoplemag, 9 July 2024

Word History

Etymology

Greek sōmatikos, from sōmat-, sōma

First Known Use

circa 1775, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing somatic

• somatic cell
• somatic symptom disorder

Kids Definition

somatic

adjective

so·​mat·​ic sō-ˈmat-ik 

sə-

: of, relating to, or affecting the body especially as compared to the mind or the tissue producing the germ cells

Medical Definition

somatic

adjective

so·​mat·​ic sō-ˈmat-ik, sə- 

1

a

: of, relating to, or affecting the body especially as distinguished from the germplasm : physical

b

: of, relating to, supplying, or involving skeletal muscles

the somatic nervous system

a somatic reflex

2

: of or relating to the wall of the body as distinguished from the viscera : parietal

somatically

-i-k(ə-)lē 

adverb