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abortionist

American  
[uh-bawr-shuh-nist] / əˈbɔr ʃə nɪst /

noun

Usually Disparaging.
  1. a person who performs or induces abortions, especially illegally.

  2. a person who favors or advocates abortion as a right or choice that all women should have.


abortionist British  
/ əˈbɔːʃənɪst /

noun

  1. a person who performs abortions, esp illegally

  2. a person who is in favour of abortion on demand

"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

Etymology

Origin of abortionist

An Americanism dating back to 1870–75; abortion + -ist

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

See Examples For:

Her options were to induce an abortion herself or find a doctor or backstreet abortionist who would do it at a price.

From BBC Dec. 12, 2025

Hag, witch, abortionist, healer, martyr— she embodies them all.

From Salon Jan. 23, 2025

The divorced, disgraced, and debarred physician was ready to come out of the shadows: He was an illegal abortionist and had been for more than 35 years and 25,000 procedures.

From Slate Jun. 15, 2022

Finally, an acquaintance refers her to a Paris abortionist off a literal back alley, where she has the procedure at 12 weeks.

From Los Angeles Times May 3, 2022

The doctor either treats the patient successfully or sends her to hospital on his own personal note, and in neither case does the identity of the abortionist come to light.

From Report of the Committee of Inquiry into the Various Aspects of the Problem of Abortion in New Zealand by McMillan, D. G. (David Gervan)

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