body modification

American

[bod-ee mod-uh-fi-key-shuhn] / ˈbɒd i mɒd ə fɪˌkeɪ ʃən /

Also body mod

noun

any method of making permanent changes to the body, including piercing, tattooing, subdermal implants, etc., usually for aesthetic purposes or personal expression.
a permanent change made to the body by piercing, tattooing, implants, etc.

body modification British

noun

any method of permanently adorning the body, including tattooing and piercing

"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 body modification

First recorded in 1985–90

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.

Mr Gustavson, 45, is accused of leading an extreme body modification operation.

From BBC • Apr. 19, 2023

She owned the Sol Tribe Tattoo & Piercing shop and had worked in the body modification industry since 1994, according to a biography of her on the shop’s website.

From New York Times • Dec. 28, 2021

Brazilian tattoo artist Michel Faro Prado has taken body modification to a new level by transforming himself into a devil look-alike.

From Reuters • Aug. 20, 2021

The same principles hold true for biohackers, a dedicated subculture of body modification enthusiasts who inject chips for fun.

From Slate • May 27, 2020

Councillor Steve Evans, Wolverhampton’s cabinet member for city environment, said it exposed the need for national regulations protecting members of the public against the risks of extreme body modification.

From The Guardian • Mar. 21, 2019

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023