diverticulum

D2I1V4E1R1T1I1C3U1L1U1M3
/ˌdɑɪ.vɜːˈtɪ.kjə.ləm/

noun

A small out-pouching of an organ wall such as the large intestine or urinary bladder.

OriginLatin dīverticulum →
UncommonScrabble 20
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Meanings

noundiverticulum (plural diverticulums or diverticula or (proscribed) diverticuli)

plural diverticulums · plural diverticula · plural proscribed diverticuli

  1. anatomyA small out-pouching of an organ wall such as the large intestine or urinary bladder.

    Diverticula are small, light-bulb-shaped pouches in the bowel wall, resulting from the tissue in the gut bulging outwards under pressure.

    2015, Giulia Enders, translated by David Shaw, Gut, Scribe, published 2016, page 16

Origin

  1. Latindīverticulum
  2. Englishdiverticulum

From Latin dīverticulum, alternative form of dēverticulum (“byroad; deviation”), from dēvertō (“turn away, turn aside”).

More words from Latin

Full word history & related roots →

Translations

Catalan diverticle
  • diverticlesmall growth off an organ
Chinese Mandarin 憩室
  • 憩室 (qìshì)small growth off an organ
Finnish divertikkeli, pullistuma
  • divertikkelismall growth off an organ
  • pullistumasmall growth off an organ
  • umpipussismall growth off an organ
French diverticule
  • diverticulesmall growth off an organ
German Divertikel
  • Divertikelsmall growth off an organ
Greek εκκόλπωμα
  • εκκόλπωμα (ekkólpoma)small growth off an organ
Indonesian divertikulum
  • divertikulumsmall growth off an organ
Italian diverticolo
  • diverticolosmall growth off an organ
Korean 게실
  • 게실 (gesil)small growth off an organ
Latin dīverticulum
  • dīverticulumsmall growth off an organ
Persian واراهه
  • واراههsmall growth off an organ
Portuguese divertículo
  • divertículosmall growth off an organ
Russian дивертикул
  • дивертикул (divertikul)small growth off an organ
Spanish divertículo
  • divertículosmall growth off an organ
Swedish divertikel
  • divertikelsmall growth off an organ
Cite this entry
APA

diverticulum. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 2, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/diverticulum

MLA

“diverticulum.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/diverticulum. Accessed November 2, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “diverticulum,” accessed November 2, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/diverticulum.

Source: diverticulum on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.