abortion

[ uh-bawr-shuhn ]

/ əˈbɔr ʃən /

Save This Word!

See synonyms for abortion on Thesaurus.com

noun

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

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

Also called spontaneous abortion. miscarriage (def. 1).

an immature and nonviable fetus.

abortus (def. 2).

any malformed or monstrous person, thing, etc.

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

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

Informal.

shambles; mess.
anything that fails to develop, progress, or mature, as a design or project.

QUIZ

SHALL WE PLAY A "SHALL" VS. "SHOULD" CHALLENGE?

Should you take this quiz on “shall” versus “should”? It should prove to be a quick challenge!

Question 1 of 6

Which form is used to state an obligation or duty someone has?

shall

should

TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

Origin of abortion

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

OTHER WORDS FROM abortion

post·a·bor·tion, adjective

Words nearby abortion

aborted systole, aborticide, abortient, abortifacient, abortigenic, abortion, abortionist, abortion-on-demand, abortion pill, abortive, abortive transduction

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2022

How to use abortion in a sentence

Last year, nine states passed bills restricting abortion rights.
Vote for Biden (duh)|Kevin Naff|September 10, 2020|Washington Blade
Lynch has long had a reputation for being a moderate, especially because of his more conservative stance on abortion rights.
Today’s Elections In Massachusetts Are Another Big Test For The Progressive Movement|Nathaniel Rakich (nathaniel.rakich@fivethirtyeight.com)|September 1, 2020|FiveThirtyEight
The second night starred an anti-abortion activist whose tale about the horrors of Planned Parenthood had been exposed as a fraud more than 10 years ago.
The RNC weaponized exhaustion|Zack Beauchamp|August 28, 2020|Vox
Clarkson has been seen as a crusader for conservative positions on same-sex marraige and abortion.
Alaska’s Attorney General Resigns Hours After We Published “Uncomfortable” Texts He Sent to a Younger Colleague|by Kyle Hopkins, Anchorage Daily News|August 25, 2020|ProPublica

Before being appointed in late 2018, Clarkson had been a champion of Christian conservative views on social issues such as same-sex marriage and abortion.
Alaska’s Attorney General on Unpaid Leave After Sending Hundreds of “Uncomfortable” Texts to a Young Colleague|by Kyle Hopkins, Anchorage Daily News|August 25, 2020|ProPublica
Most often, the doctrine is invoked by minors seeking an abortion without parental consent.
Should Teens Have The Right To Die?|Brandy Zadrozny|January 8, 2015|DAILY BEAST
The language of this bill is a de facto abortion ban for most pregnant federal prisoners.
The GOP’s Hidden Ban on Prison Abortions|Harold Pollack|December 13, 2014|DAILY BEAST
In other words, unnecessarily stringent abortion regulation could be far more dangerous than abortion itself.
Abortion Complications Are Rare, No Matter What the Right Says|Samantha Allen|December 8, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Anti-abortion organizations tend to tend to propagate the idea that the procedure is dangerous and unproven.
Abortion Complications Are Rare, No Matter What the Right Says|Samantha Allen|December 8, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Planned Parenthood, on the other hand, describes abortion as “very safe.”
Abortion Complications Are Rare, No Matter What the Right Says|Samantha Allen|December 8, 2014|DAILY BEAST
It seems to mean—'who very often seek after destroyed increase (abortion) and the play of love.'
Chaucer's Works, Volume 1 (of 7) -- Romaunt of the Rose; Minor Poems|Geoffrey Chaucer
They did not know enough to prevent conception, but they did the best they could by means of abortion and infanticide.
The Book of Life: Vol. I Mind and Body; Vol. II Love and Society|Upton Sinclair
Endemics of abortion depend on the impalpable vapors that arise from the quicksilver mines of Spain.
The Education of American Girls|Anna Callender Brackett
Some think that a load-stone laid upon the navel, keeps a woman from abortion.
The Works of Aristotle the Famous Philosopher|Anonymous
And so on until our whole system of abortion, intimidation, tyranny, cruelty and the rest is in full swing again.
A Treatise on Parents and Children|George Bernard Shaw

British Dictionary definitions for abortion

abortion

/ (əˈbɔːʃən) /

noun

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

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

the products of abortion; an aborted fetus

the arrest of development of an organ

a failure to develop to completion or maturitythe project proved an abortion

a person or thing that is deformed

Derived forms of abortion

abortional, adjective

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Medical definitions for abortion

abortion

[ ə-bôr′shən ]

Induced termination of a pregnancy with destruction of the fetus or embryo; therapeutic abortion.

Any of various procedures that result in such a termination of pregnancy.

Spontaneous abortion.

Cessation of a normal or abnormal process before completion.

Scientific definitions for abortion

abortion

[ ə-bôr′shən ]

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

Any of various procedures that result in such termination.

Spontaneous abortion; miscarriage.

Cessation of a normal or abnormal process before completion.

Cultural definitions for abortion (1 of 2)

abortion

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.

notes for abortion

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.)

Cultural definitions for abortion (2 of 2)

abortion

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.)

abortion

Origin of abortion

OTHER WORDS FROM abortion

Words nearby abortion

Words related to abortion

How to use abortion in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for abortion

Derived forms of abortion

Medical definitions for abortion

Scientific definitions for abortion

Cultural definitions for abortion (1 of 2)

notes for abortion

Cultural definitions for abortion (2 of 2)