incision

American  

[in-sizh-uhn] / ɪnˈsɪʒ ən /

noun

• incisions
  plural

1. a cut, gash, or notch.

2. the act of incising.

3. a cutting into, especially for surgical purposes.

4. incisiveness; keenness.

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incision British  

/ ɪnˈsɪʒən /

noun

1. the act of incising

2. a cut, gash, or notch

3. a cut made with a knife during a surgical operation

4. any indentation in an incised leaf

5. rare incisiveness

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Usage

What does incision mean? An incision is a cut made into the body during surgery. Traditionally, incisions are made with surgical instruments like scalpels. However, they can also be made with lasers or robotic tools. Sometimes, incision refers to the scar resulting from such a cut. Incision is the noun form of the verb incise, meaning to cut into. The noun form incision is more commonly used. More generally, incision can refer to any cut or gash, but it is primarily used to refer to surgical incisions. Example: The surgeon explained that she would need to make three small incisions in my abdomen in order to remove my appendix.

Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• incisions
  plural

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Etymology

Origin of incision

1350–1400; Middle English < Latin incīsiōn- (stem of incīsiō ). See incise, -ion

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Explanation

An incision is a surgical cut. A doctor uses a scalpel to make an incision in a patient's skin. An incision usually refers to a cut that's made during surgery, like an abdominal incision made by a surgeon during a gall bladder operation. A decorative or artistic cut can also be called an incision, such as a cut in carved wood or marble. Incision can also describe the power of sharp observation, like the incision of your friend who can always tell when you're upset, even when you try to hide it.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

incision incisions

Because the procedure does not involve replacing the joint or making a large surgical incision, recovery is generally much shorter than after knee replacement.

From Science Daily ● Sep. 22, 2026

Maisie was left with a scar, twice the size of a C-section incision.

From BBC ● Aug. 3, 2026

During the procedure, an interventional radiology team makes a small incision near the crease of the leg.

From Science Daily ● Jun. 23, 2026

The NanoNeedle Scope 2.0, developed by medical device company Arthrex, is only 1.9 mm—less than a tenth of an inch—resulting in a smaller incision, less tissue damage and faster healing.

From The Wall Street Journal ● May 26, 2026

With an incising awl, he inscribed the leather-hard clay—a simple chrysanthemum design, far cruder than much of the elaborate incision work for which the potters of Ch’ulp’o were known.

From "A Single Shard" by Linda Sue Park

During a consultation with the New York plastic surgeon Dr. David Rosenberg, he suggested an alternative that involves smaller incisions and inserting a tiny camera into the body to identify precise areas to lift.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 24, 2026

We later showed one of the photos to a consultant in the UK, who said the scars looked consistent with the sort of incisions made during a kidney operation.

From BBC ● Jun. 9, 2026

Before, Ahmad could tap — meaning to cut incisions in the acacia trees, which exude sap that a few weeks later hardens into nodules of Hashab gum — four orchards in one go.

From Los Angeles Times ● May 31, 2026

Davis did not explain that a D&C involved no incisions, just suction, according to Hope, or tell them that it would stop the bleeding faster.

From Salon ● Nov. 25, 2024

The constant probing of the president's wound, insertions of tubes, and surgical incisions created plenty of opportunities for bacteria to enter Garfield's body.

From "Ambushed!" by Gail Jarrow

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