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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

Largely because these women placed advertisements in cheap papers, the woman physician became associated with the idea of the smarmy, greedy and untrained abortionist.

From Salon ● Jul. 9, 2022

Stepping just outside its margins into the viewer’s space, a grubby pink stool where the abortionist sat is placed next to the patient’s wire seat.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 3, 2022

“That’s how I get my kicks, I guess. You know, an abortionist has his satisfaction, too.”

From Slate ● Jun. 15, 2022

On the twentieth of October, 1847, the abortionist was placed in the dock of the Court of General Sessions, before Recorder Scott and two aldermen.

From Danger! A True History of a Great City's Wiles and Temptations The Veil Lifted, and Light Thrown on Crime and its Causes, and Criminals and their Haunts. Facts and Disclosures. by William F. Howe

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