abortion

[ uh-bawr-shuh n ]

/ əˈbɔr ʃən /

SEE MORE 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.

Nearby words

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

Origin of abortion

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

Related forms

post·a·bor·tion, adjective

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for abortion

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
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

The National Right to Life Committee, for example, asks the leading question “Is Abortion Safe?”
Abortion Complications Are Rare, No Matter What the Right Says|Samantha Allen|December 8, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Macpherson had recently engaged the public gaze by his 'Ossian'—an abortion fathered upon the fourth century after Christ.
The Posthumous Works of Thomas De Quincey, Vol. 1 (2 vols)|Thomas De Quincey
Abortion is the dislodging of the child from the only place where it can live and where nature has placed it for that purpose.
Moral Principles and Medical Practice|Charles Coppens
X-ray photographing of pregnant women is very likely to cause abortion.
The Ethics of Medical Homicide and Mutilation|Austin O'Malley
No particular attention need be bestowed upon this cough, unless it become so violent as to threaten abortion.
The Matron's Manual of Midwifery, and the Diseases of Women During Pregnancy and in Childbed|Frederick Hollick
In pregnancy uterine hemorrhage and uterine pain are symptoms of a threatened abortion, but not certain symptoms.
The Ethics of Medical Homicide and Mutilation|Austin O'Malley

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

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

Medicine definitions for abortion

abortion

[ ə-bôr′shən ]

n.

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.

Science 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.

Culture 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.

Note

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.)

Culture 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.)