hysterectomy

American  

[his-tuh-rek-tuh-mee] / ˌhɪs təˈrɛk tə mi /

noun

Surgery.

plural

hysterectomies

1. excision of the uterus.

---

hysterectomy British  

/ ˌhɪstəˈrɛktəmɪ /

noun

1. surgical removal of the uterus

---

hysterectomy Scientific  

/ hĭs′tə-rĕk′tə-mē /

1. Surgical removal of part or all of the uterus.

---

hysterectomy Cultural  

1. The surgical removal of all or part of the uterus.

---

Etymology

Origin of hysterectomy

First recorded in 1885–90; hyster- + -ectomy

Example Sentences

Frozen shoulder was how I discovered I was in perimenopause because I was not told by my doctor who performed my hysterectomy that this could happen.

From Los Angeles Times • Jan. 20, 2026

Lee’s mom sewed children’s clothes at a textile plant before dying of complications from a hysterectomy at 35 when Lee was 16.

From The Wall Street Journal • Dec. 27, 2025

Kate Dyson, 44, from Hastings, underwent the surgery six months ago after having a subtotal hysterectomy just over four years ago to remove her uterus - a procedure which leaves the cervix in place.

From BBC • Nov. 10, 2025

"I had to have a hysterectomy, I had to go into radiation therapy, and that took up a huge part of my life."

From BBC • Oct. 10, 2025

But with the Pap smear, doctors could detect precancerous cells and perform a hysterectomy, and cervical cancer would be almost entirely preventable.

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