circumcision

American  

[sur-kuhm-sizh-uhn] / ˌsɜr kəmˈsɪʒ ən /

noun

• circumcisions
  plural

1. an act, instance, or the rite of circumcising.

2. clitoridectomy.

3. spiritual purification.

4. (initial capital letter) a church festival in honor of the circumcision of Jesus, observed on January 1.

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circumcision British  

/ ˌsɜːkəmˈsɪʒən /

noun

1. 1. surgical removal of the foreskin of males

   2. surgical incision into the skin covering the clitoris in females

   3. removal of the clitoris

2. the act of circumcision, performed as a religious rite by Jews and Muslims

3. RC Church the festival celebrated on Jan 1 in commemoration of the circumcision of Jesus

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circumcision Cultural  

1. The surgical removal of the skin that covers the tip of the penis, usually performed soon after birth. Although circumcision is common in the United States, the procedure is no longer widely recommended as a medical necessity by physicians.

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Discover More

Circumcision is performed as a religious ceremony by Jews (see also Jews) and Muslims.

Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• circumcisions
  plural

Etymology

Origin of circumcision

First recorded in 1125–75; Middle English, from Late Latin circumcīsiōn-, stem of circumcīsiō, equivalent to circumcise + -ion

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

circumcision circumcisions

Who can blame the infant, even one so tender and mild, for squawking during his circumcision?

From The Wall Street Journal ● Mar. 26, 2026

A coroner has warned that further babies could die unless the government introduces regulation of non-therapeutic male circumcision following the death of a six-month-old boy in west London.

From BBC ● Jan. 2, 2026

In a new surge of medical disinformation and misinformation, RFK Jr. goes after Tylenol and circumcision.

From Los Angeles Times ● Nov. 25, 2025

"A more recent review of studies in this area finds no association between circumcision and any adverse psychological effects," he added.

From Barron's ● Oct. 9, 2025

A prisoner working in the hospital who had formerly practiced as an ingcibi set up a secret circumcision school, and a number of the younger prisoners from our section were circumcised there.

From "Long Walk to Freedom" by Nelson Mandela

He also said that Belgium’s health minister, whom he called “very rude”, should change the law to allow mohels to perform circumcisions.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Feb. 17, 2026

Assistant coroner Anton van Dellen wrote a prevention of future deaths report in which he called for action over the lack of safety and regulatory measures surrounding non-therapeutic male circumcisions.

From BBC ● Jan. 2, 2026

He even took arms against the Murdoch-owned New York Post, which posted its story with the headline, “RFK Jr. says Tylenol after circumcisions linked to autism,” and proceeded to debunk the claim.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 14, 2025

King Edmonds said she is not Jewish, but decided to use a mohel, a person who performs circumcisions in the Jewish faith, to perform the procedure in her home.

From Fox News ● Jan. 7, 2020

The next morning my brothers, who had healed from their circumcisions, were happy that I was going to school with them.

From "Tasting the Sky" by Ibtisam Barakat