Jump To:

• cesarean section
  cesarean section

  A surgical incision through the abdominal wall and uterus, performed to deliver a fetus.
• Cesarean section
  Cesarean section

  Childbirth by surgical removal of the fetus through an incision made in the wall of the abdomen and in the uterus, usually used as an alternative when natural delivery through the vagina is considered risky. The number of Cesarean sections in the United States has increased sharply in recent years, causing concern among patients, surgeons, and insurers.

cesarean section

Scientific  

/ sĭ-zâr′ē-ən /

1. A surgical incision through the abdominal wall and uterus, performed to deliver a fetus.

---

Cesarean section Cultural  

1. Childbirth by surgical removal of the fetus through an incision made in the wall of the abdomen and in the uterus, usually used as an alternative when natural delivery through the vagina is considered risky. The number of Cesarean sections in the United States has increased sharply in recent years, causing concern among patients, surgeons, and insurers.

---

Discover More

The term derives from the traditional belief that Julius Caesar was born by this method.

The procedure is often referred to colloquially as a “C-section.”

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

cesarean section Cesarean section

There has been a significant increase in cesarean section deliveries in recent decades, which made up 32.3% of deliveries in 2023, according to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Feb. 3, 2026

According to the article in Time, all three wolves were born by planned cesarean section to minimise the risk of complications.

From BBC ● Apr. 8, 2025

The protests were led by 4Kira4Moms, a group founded by Charles Johnson, whose wife Kira Dixon Johnson died of hemorrhaging at Cedars-Sinai after a cesarean section nearly nine years ago.

From Los Angeles Times ● Feb. 20, 2025

When Siming Zhu gave birth to her daughter via cesarean section, she didn’t go home after leaving the hospital.

From Slate ● Jul. 13, 2024

Olympian Allyson Felix, who developed pre-eclampsia during her first pregnancy and had to have an emergency cesarean section at 32 weeks.

From New York Times ● May 1, 2024

Physicians warned her that continuing the pregnancy put her at high risk of developing gestational diabetes and hypertension—and that a third Cesarean section might also deprive Cox of the ability to have another child.

From Slate ● Dec. 8, 2023

Derek Clarke, the doctor listed on the hospital discharge document, delivered Lynndaya by Cesarean section.

From Reuters ● Dec. 7, 2015

But he pointed out that aspiration can be an issue if an emergency Cesarean section is required due to fetal distress.

From US News ● Oct. 24, 2015

On December 8 at 7:18 p.m., five weeks early, little Sarah Jean Mercer was born by Cesarean section.

From Washington Times ● Jun. 7, 2015

In Belgium the Cesarean section has been performed seven times on the same woman, and in Philadelphia three times.

From Moral Principles and Medical Practice The Basis of Medical Jurisprudence by Coppens, Charles