1
: provided by an official U.S. military supply department
GI shoes
2
: of, relating to, or characteristic of U.S. military personnel
3
: conforming to military regulations or customs
a GI haircut
plural GIs or GI's
ˌjē-ˈīz 
: a member or former member of the U.S. armed forces
especially
: a man enlisted in the army
: in a strictly regulation manner
: to clean (something) thoroughly in preparation for or as if for a military inspection
The barracks … were in fine order—they'd been GI'd the night before.—
New Republic
New RepublicExamples of gi in a Sentence
Verb
in preparation for one of her mother-in-law's dreaded visits, she had GI'd the whole house
Recent Examples on the Web
Sara Hoffman, Verywell Health, 20 May 2026
Side effects including nausea, GI issues and potential muscle loss without adequate protein are real considerations for anyone discussing these drugs with a doctor.
—Allison Palmer, Sacbee.com, 18 May 2026
Side effects including nausea, GI issues and potential muscle loss without adequate protein intake are real considerations.
—Allison Palmer, Charlotte Observer, 18 May 2026
The film stars Sophie Thatcher as the young woman and Melton as the American GI.
—Kate Erbland, IndieWire, 18 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for gi
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Noun
Keep in mind that aloe vera formulations also vary, and some can cause side effects, such as GI upset.
—Sara Hoffman, Verywell Health, 20 May 2026
Side effects including nausea, GI issues and potential muscle loss without adequate protein are real considerations for anyone discussing these drugs with a doctor.
—Allison Palmer, Sacbee.com, 18 May 2026
Side effects including nausea, GI issues and potential muscle loss without adequate protein intake are real considerations.
—Allison Palmer, Charlotte Observer, 18 May 2026
The film stars Sophie Thatcher as the young woman and Melton as the American GI.
—Kate Erbland, IndieWire, 18 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for gi
Cite this Entry
“Gi.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/gi. Accessed 25 May. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
GI
1 of 2 adjective
: of, relating to, or characteristic of U.S. military forces
GI
2 of 2 noun
plural GIs or GI's
: a member or former member of the U.S. armed forces
Etymology
Adjective
from the abbreviation for galvanized iron used in listing such articles as garbage cans, but mistaken as standing for government issue
Medical Definition
GI
abbreviation1
gastrointestinal
2
glycemic index
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