abortion

American  

[uh-bawr-shuhn] / əˈbɔr ʃən /

noun

1. Also called voluntary abortion.  the removal of an embryo or fetus from the uterus in order to end a pregnancy.

2. any of various surgical methods for terminating a pregnancy, especially during the first six months.

3. Also called spontaneous abortion.  miscarriage.

4. an immature and nonviable fetus.

5. abortus.

6. any malformed or monstrous person, thing, etc.

7. Biology. the arrested development of an embryo or an organ at a more or less early stage.

8. the stopping of an illness, infection, etc., at a very early stage.

9. Informal.

   1. shambles; mess.

   2. anything that fails to develop, progress, or mature, as a design or project.

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abortion British  

/ əˈbɔːʃən /

noun

1. an operation or other procedure to terminate pregnancy before the fetus is viable

2. the premature termination of pregnancy by spontaneous or induced expulsion of a nonviable fetus from the uterus

3. the products of abortion; an aborted fetus

4. the arrest of development of an organ

5. a failure to develop to completion or maturity

   the project proved an abortion

6. a person or thing that is deformed

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abortion Scientific  

/ ə-bôr′shən /

1. Induced termination of pregnancy, involving destruction of the embryo or fetus.

2. Any of various procedures that result in such termination.

3. Spontaneous abortion; miscarriage.

4. Cessation of a normal or abnormal process before completion.

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abortion ¹ Cultural  

1. The ending of pregnancy and expulsion of the embryo or fetus, generally before the embryo or fetus is capable of surviving on its own. Abortion may be brought on intentionally by artificial means (induced abortion) or may occur naturally (spontaneous abortion, which is commonly referred to as a miscarriage). (Compare stillbirth; see also family planning and population control.)

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abortion ² Cultural  

1. The deliberate termination of a pregnancy, usually before the embryo or fetus is capable of independent life. In medical contexts, this procedure is called an induced abortion and is distinguished from a spontaneous abortion (miscarriage) or stillbirth.

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Discover More

Abortion laws are extremely controversial. Those who describe themselves as “pro-choice” believe that the decision to have an abortion should be left to the mother. In contrast, the “pro-life” faction, arguing that abortion is killing, holds that the state should prohibit abortion in most cases. Feminists (see feminism) (see also feminism) and liberals generally support the pro-choice side; Roman Catholics and Protestant fundamentalists generally back the pro-life side. (See Roe versus Wade.)

Other Word Forms

• abortional adjective
• postabortion adjective

Etymology

Origin of abortion

First recorded in 1540–50, abortion is from the Latin word abortiōn- (stem of abortiō ). See abort, -ion

Example Sentences

However, a move by the government to legalise abortion was ended last year at the request of Albert, the reigning monarch since 2005.

From Barron's

The ads tell women how they can get help obtaining an abortion.

From Salon

Her reporting often focuses on breaking news and abortion in the U.S., tracking the shifting legal landscape of abortion rights and its subsequent impacts.

From The Wall Street Journal

It also created a “chilling” effect among clinicians who were scared to share family-planning resources due to a fear of it affecting funding — even in countries with progressive policies on abortion.

From Salon

A candidate for the Senedd election in May has said she hopes sharing her own experience of having an abortion aged 15 will empower others to "understand the importance" of women's health and rights.

From BBC

Related Words

• miscarriage