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

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Etymology

Origin of incision

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

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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

First, Smith melts fat and tightens deeper tissue using Vaser, an ultrasonic wand inserted into the arm via a small incision.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 24, 2026

"Luckily they were able to do a slight incision and not have to rip me open completely," he said.

From BBC ● Sep. 23, 2026

Because the procedure does not involve replacing the joint or making a large surgical incision, recovery is generally much shorter than after knee replacement.

From Science Daily ● Sep. 22, 2026

An interventional radiology team begins by making a small incision in the crease of the leg.

From Science Daily ● Sep. 22, 2026

The bed covers and clothing were pulled aside to expose the president's back, including the dressings over his bullet wound and new incision.

From "Ambushed!" by Gail Jarrow

During a consultation with the New York plastic surgeon Dr. David Rosenberg, he suggested an alternative that involves smaller incisions and inserting a tiny camera into the body to identify precise areas to lift.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 24, 2026

We later showed one of the photos to a consultant in the UK, who said the scars looked consistent with the sort of incisions made during a kidney operation.

From BBC ● Jun. 9, 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

They differed from common trays due to their internal surface, marked with rough impressions or incisions arranged repetitively and regularly.

From Science Daily ● Nov. 25, 2024

Dad takes his seat at his spot at the head of the table, for the moment oblivious to Mom’s irritated overtures, and begins making incisions in his ham.

From "Dry" by Neal Shusterman and Jarrod Shusterman

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