incision

[ in-sizh-uhn ]

noun

1. a cut, gash, or notch.
2. the act of incising.
3. a cutting into, especially for surgical purposes.
4. incisiveness; keenness.

incision

/ 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

Word History and Origins

Origin of incision¹

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

Example Sentences

They must visualize pathways and know where in the body to make an incision before they see their patient on the table.

From Washington Post

A precursor to vaccination, inoculation was the direct insertion of pus taken from a smallpox victim into a slight incision on the arm of a healthy person.

From Washington Post

Neuralink’s approach would require a physical incision to implant a chip in your brain.

From Ozy

At the moment, Lester’s biggest worry is the incision scar opening while he’s pitching.

From Washington Post

That interruption is one of many strong vertical elements in these paintings, but this one is scored with horizontal incisions that suggest the flickering lines that inspired the show’s title — and recall Cortina’s other career.

From Washington Post

Slow at first, then steadily, a stream of liquid drips off the incision.

From The Daily Beast

A new procedure for hysterectomies, done via robotic arm via a single incision, results in no scarring and little downtime.

From The Daily Beast

They made a second, shorter incision at the end of the first one.

From The Daily Beast

You have to use the electric scalpel and make a shaky incision on purpose, because palm lines are never completely straight.

From The Daily Beast

That type of incision is rarely performed on large breasts, according to Levine.

From The Daily Beast

The wound after probing looked sufficiently like an ordinary incision to deceive any one.

From Project Gutenberg

Lane put his hand into the abdominal incision and squeezed the heart through the diaphragm.

From Project Gutenberg

With one incision Balsamo separated the vertebral column a couple of inches from the brain, and opened a yawning gash.

From Project Gutenberg

They may be operated on by means of incision or extirpation.

From Project Gutenberg

He rejects opening of the head by an incision because of the danger of it.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• laceration

More About Incision

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.

Where does incision come from?

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!

Did you know ... ?

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

How is incision used in real life!

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

 

 

Try using incision!

Is incision used correctly in the following sentence?

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