verb
-
to cut open and examine the structure of (a dead animal or plant)
-
(tr) to examine critically and minutely
-
To cut apart or separate body tissues or organs, especially for anatomical study.
-
In surgery, to separate different anatomical structures along natural lines by dividing the connective tissue framework.
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of dissect
1600–10; < Latin dissectus (past participle of dissecāre to cut up), equivalent to dis- dis- 1 + sec- cut + -tus past participle suffix
Explanation
When you dissect a frog in science class, you cut it open to look at its inner organs. To dissect is to break something down to look at its parts. Dissecting something allows you to look at it closely and understand it better. If your soccer team loses a match, you might want to dissect the game afterward to try to find exactly how and when things went wrong. Television analysts will often dissect a political speech to understand what was really being said, how true the statements were, and how well it was done.
Vocabulary lists containing dissect
"Fine?" Vocabulary from the short story
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
Thirteen Reasons Why
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
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.
In her mind, both “Zama” and “Our Land” come from the same impulse to dissect colonialism.
From Los Angeles Times • May 6, 2026
They dissect her appeal to the many groups—from Surrealists and feminists to the LGBTQ+ community and the disabled—who since the 1930s have embraced her as one of their own.
From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 1, 2026
The kids took to TikTok and Instagram to dissect every awful thing Banks and the rest did in the name of goosing ratings, with many wondering why its audience barely blinked at its endless exploitation.
From Salon • Feb. 20, 2026
They dissect ingredient lists, film unboxings and record "Get Ready With Me" videos built around ideas such as "glass skin", sheet masks and, of course, snail mucin.
From BBC • Jan. 2, 2026
Noodles continued to dissect all the stuff he thought was deep about comics, and how when he draws them, he adds tattoos and jewelry and stuff like that to make them more current.
From "When I Was the Greatest" by Jason Reynolds
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
