Synonyms

Caesarean section

British

noun

surgical incision through the abdominal and uterine walls in order to deliver a baby

"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 Caesarean section

C17: from the belief that Julius Caesar was so delivered, the name allegedly being derived from caesus, past participle of caedere to cut

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.

After the crash the pregnant woman had to undergo an emergency Caesarean section, leaving her premature baby in intensive care for a number of weeks, when she suffered two collapsed lungs.

From BBC • Feb. 26, 2026

He believes a timely Caesarean section would have saved her life.

From BBC • Jan. 15, 2026

Her twins were delivered by Caesarean section at 26 weeks in a high-risk operation.

From BBC • Sep. 8, 2025

Baby Amy was born by Caesarean section at Queen Charlotte's hospital in west London on 27 February.

From BBC • Apr. 7, 2025

Eighteen months later his sister was born, and five and a half years after the birth of his sister, his brother was born by Caesarean section, both in that same hospital.

From "The Chosen" by Chaim Potok

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