incision

American  

[in-sizh-uhn] / ɪnˈsɪʒ ən /

noun

incisions plural

1. a cut, gash, or notch.

2. the act of incising.

3. a cutting into, especially for surgical purposes.

4. incisiveness; keenness.

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incision British  

/ ɪnˈsɪʒən /

noun

1. the act of incising

2. a cut, gash, or notch

3. a cut made with a knife during a surgical operation

4. any indentation in an incised leaf

5. rare incisiveness

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Usage

What does incision mean? An incision is a cut made into the body during surgery. Traditionally, incisions are made with surgical instruments like scalpels. However, they can also be made with lasers or robotic tools. Sometimes, incision refers to the scar resulting from such a cut. Incision is the noun form of the verb incise, meaning to cut into. The noun form incision is more commonly used. More generally, incision can refer to any cut or gash, but it is primarily used to refer to surgical incisions. Example: The surgeon explained that she would need to make three small incisions in my abdomen in order to remove my appendix.

Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• incisions
  plural

Etymology

Origin of incision

1350–1400; Middle English < Latin incīsiōn- (stem of incīsiō ). See incise, -ion

Explanation

An incision is a surgical cut. A doctor uses a scalpel to make an incision in a patient's skin. An incision usually refers to a cut that's made during surgery, like an abdominal incision made by a surgeon during a gall bladder operation. A decorative or artistic cut can also be called an incision, such as a cut in carved wood or marble. Incision can also describe the power of sharp observation, like the incision of your friend who can always tell when you're upset, even when you try to hide it.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

incision incisions

The NanoNeedle Scope 2.0, developed by medical device company Arthrex, is only 1.9 mm—less than a tenth of an inch—resulting in a smaller incision, less tissue damage and faster healing.

From The Wall Street Journal ● May 26, 2026

“I feel a lot better now,” said Scott, who hadn’t pitched in the playoffs before having an abscess incision on Oct.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 20, 2025

But when the bandage came off a few weeks later, Jodee saw two scars instead of one on the inside of her child's leg when they had been told it would be just one incision.

From BBC ● Dec. 18, 2024

Razor-sharp teeth and surgical precision allow the bats to make an incision in an animal, such as in the hock of a cow, without the animal feeling it.

From Science Daily ● May 21, 2024

John Bell, the superintendent, opened her abdomen with an incision in the midline.

From "The Gene" by Siddhartha Mukherjee

More surgical options have emerged too, such as smaller incisions in the chest, or a robotic surgery that involves a smaller incision on a person’s side near the armpit.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Apr. 24, 2026

Currently there is no regulation over who can provide procedures which do not involve incisions.

From BBC ● Feb. 23, 2026

Every part of him was by design, with the scars on his body reflecting incisions that those studying human anatomy in the 18th century would have made.

From Los Angeles Times ● Feb. 10, 2026

In recent years, Zhao's lab has developed adhesives for a variety of medical applications, including double-sided and single-sided tapes that could be used to heal surgical incisions or internal injuries.

From Science Daily ● May 22, 2024

But a few of my brother’s incisions resulted in the hot dogs assuming funny shapes.

From "Middlesex: A Novel" by Jeffrey Eugenides

Related Words

• laceration