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Showing results for hernia. Search instead for hernaria.
Synonyms

hernia

American  
[hur-nee-uh] / ˈhɜr ni ə /

noun

Pathology.

plural

hernias, herniae

  1. the protrusion of an organ or tissue through an opening in its surrounding walls, especially in the abdominal region.

hernia British  
/ ˈhɜːnɪə /

noun

  1. Also called: rupture.  the projection of an organ or part through the lining of the cavity in which it is normally situated, esp the protrusion of intestine through the front wall of the abdominal cavity. It is caused by muscular strain, injury, etc

"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
hernia Scientific  
/ hûr′nē-ə /

  1. A condition in which an organ or body part, such as the intestine, protrudes through an opening in the body structure that normally contains it.

hernia Cultural  

  1. The projection of an organ or part of an organ through the wall of the structure that surrounds it. Most often, the term is applied to the protrusion of a part of the intestine that can be observed as a lump in the lower abdomen.

Other Word Forms

  • hernial adjective
  • herniated adjective

Etymology

Origin of hernia

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English, from Latin: “a rupture”; akin to hīra “gut”; haruspex ( def. )

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.

Scott Black: David, Becton Dickinson has faced litigation for its hernia mesh.

From Barron's • Jan. 16, 2026

Waites recalled the time he had a hernia operation on a Wednesday and still managed to make it to Leicester on the Saturday to cheer on Boro.

From BBC • Jan. 14, 2026

This latest procedure comes after the 70-year-old successfully underwent surgery for a double hernia earlier this week, after being granted permission to be transferred to hospital.

From BBC • Dec. 28, 2025

His surgery on Thursday will repair an inguinal hernia, a protrusion in the groin area due to a tear in the abdominal muscles.

From Barron's • Dec. 24, 2025

Adrian dropped a handful of them at my feet, laughing so hard, he looked like he was going to give himself a hernia.

From "We Are the Ants" by Shaun David Hutchinson

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.