cervix

American  

[sur-viks] / ˈsɜr vɪks /

noun

Anatomy.

plural

cervixes, cervices

1. the neck, especially the back part.

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

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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

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cervix Scientific  

/ sûr′vĭks /

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

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cervix Cultural  

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

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Other Word Forms

• cervical adjective

Etymology

Origin of cervix

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

Compare meaning

How does cervix compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

• cervix vs. uterus

Example Sentences

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

PIEZO2, in contrast, is located in sensory nerves in the cervix and vagina.

From Science Daily • Jan. 13, 2026

Doctors typically swab a patient’s cervix in clinical settings to test for high-risk strains of the human papillomavirus, an infection that can cause cancer when left untreated, through Pap smears and HPV testing.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 5, 2026

Yet for people like Lauren—and, incidentally, the actress and director Lena Dunham—removing the organ, and/or ovaries and cervix, can bring substantial relief.

From Slate • Jul. 15, 2025

At that point the doctors liked what they saw: her cervix was a bit red and inflamed from the first treatment, but the tumor was shrinking.

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

Related Words

• collar