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cervix

American  
[sur-viks] / ˈsɜr vɪks /

noun

Anatomy.
cervixes, plural cervices plural
  1. the neck, especially the back part.

  2. any necklike part, especially the constricted lower end of the uterus.


cervix British  
/ ˈsɜːvɪks /

noun

  1. the technical name for neck

  2. any necklike part of an organ, esp the lower part of the uterus that extends into the vagina

"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

cervix Scientific  
/ sûrvĭks /
  1. A neck-shaped anatomical structure, especially the narrowed, lower end of the uterus that extends into the vagina.


cervix Cultural  
  1. The narrow outer end of the uterus. A portion of the cervix extends into the vagina. (See reproductive systems.)


Other Word Forms

Etymology

Origin of cervix

First recorded in 1375–1425; late Middle English, from Latin cervīx “neck, nape, uterine cervix”

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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.

For 40 hours, Barnica waited in the hospital for the heartbeat to stop, with her cervix exposed to bacteria.

From Salon • May 27, 2026

Misoprostol was initially approved by the FDA for stomach ulcers and is routinely prescribed off-label to induce labor, treat postpartum hemorrhage, and prepare the cervix for IUD insertion.

From Slate • May 18, 2026

It is used to end pregnancies through 10 weeks gestation in combination with the drug misoprostol, which stimulates contractions and softens the cervix, allowing tissue to expel.

From Barron's • May 10, 2026

When my wife was pregnant, her OB-GYN declared her cervix to be incompetent and put her on bed rest.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 13, 2026

Tests showed areas of increased cellular activity in the cervix.

From "The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks" by Rebecca Skloot

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