incision

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.

The first records of the word incision come from the 1300s. Incision is the noun form of incise, which derives from the Latin verb incīdere, meaning “to carve” or “to cut into.”

Steady-handed surgeons make incisions with scalpels, lasers, or robotic tools. Some incisions are made for the purpose of exploratory surgery, which typically involves trying to diagnose what may be wrong with a certain body part. In most cases, though, incisions are made so that a body part can be repaired or removed. Sometimes, incisions are very small, such as in a laparoscopic appendectomy (a procedure to remove the appendix that uses a tool called a laparoscope). Other procedures require incisions that are quite big, such as in a cesarean section. Hopefully you won’t need any, but if you do, may all your incisions be done with precision!

What are some other forms of incision?

• incise (verb)

What are some synonyms for incision?

• cut

What are some words that share a root or word element with incision? 

• incision biopsy
• incisive
• precise
• scissors

What are some words that often get used in discussing incision?

• surgery
• surgeon
• scalpel
• operation
• procedure
• opening

The word incision is most commonly used in a technical way in the context of surgery.

Quite happy so far with the three minor incisions/scars I have on my chest because of the surgery. Should have done it with robots too last year instead of having that huge scar on my side. A lot faster to recover from as well.

— Mats Adams (@Sorcerer) September 5, 2019

“C-section is the easy way out” yeah okay tell that to my foot long incision, blood clots, blood transfusions, pain medication, not being able to move, drive, and almost losing my life and my babies in the process and struggling to function day to day. Stop being ignorant.

— mama vee 🦋 (@veebrigham1) June 14, 2019

It’s true: I’m back! I went to sleep expecting to wake up with a small incision and woke up with a big one – but guess what? I woke up, and that’s something to be thankful for. Thank you to the doctors & nurses. And I’m truly filled with gratitude for all of the kind messages.

— Arnold (@Schwarzenegger) April 2, 2018

Is incision used correctly in the following sentence?

I’d rather have three small incisions than one long one.