abortion

American  

[uh-bawr-shuhn] / əˈbɔr ʃən /

noun

• abortions
  plural

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

Derived Forms

• abortional
  adjective
• postabortion
  adjective

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• abortions
  plural

Etymology

Origin of abortion

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

Explanation

Abortion is a medical procedure that ends a pregnancy. In the United States, the public debate over a women's right to have an abortion is a complex and heated political issue. The words abort and abortion can also apply to non-pregnancy related topics. If you are in the middle of a jewel-heist and the alarm on the vault is tripped, you and your partners in crime might opt to abort the plan and run while you can, debating whether the plan's abortion was a good decision or not later.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

abortion abortions

The contract explicitly provided that she would terminate the pregnancy if the fetus had a serious birth defect and the intended parents requested an abortion.

From Slate ● Sep. 17, 2026

Some Texans have been able to get abortions by leaving the state or ordering abortion medication online.

From Salon ● Sep. 17, 2026

She agreed to terminate the pregnancy if a serious birth defect were discovered and the parents requested an abortion.

From Slate ● Sep. 17, 2026

Currently in Virginia, abortion is legal through 26 weeks and six days of pregnancy.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 14, 2026

Ceaugescu’s ban on abortion was designed to achieve one of his major aims: to rapidly strengthen Romania by boosting its population.

From "Freakonomics: A Rogue Economist Explores the Hidden Side of Everything" by Steven D. Levitt

The system would cover hospital and physician services, most prescription drugs, mental health and substance abuse treatment, dental and vision services, long-term care and gender affirming and reproductive care such as contraception and abortions.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 3, 2026

At an abortion awareness rally in 1969 where women were sharing their experiences of having abortions, Steinem was encouraged to share her own story about terminating a pregnancy.

From BBC ● Sep. 3, 2026

Indiana acknowledged that Planned Parenthood was facilitating legal abortions.

From Slate ● Aug. 28, 2026

In other cases reported in US media, cops used Flock to track women who had abortions -- illegal in several US states.

From Barron's ● Aug. 9, 2026

They knew his clumsy abortions and the little brown pennies he gave sparingly for alms.

From "The Pearl" by John Steinbeck

Related Words

• miscarriage