insertion
Americannoun
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the act of inserting.
the insertion of a coin in a vending machine.
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something inserted.
an insertion in the middle of a paragraph.
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Botany, Zoology.
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the manner or place of attachment, as of an organ.
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attachment of a part or organ, with special reference to the site or manner of such attachment.
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lace, embroidery, or the like, to be sewn at each edge between parts of other material.
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Aerospace. injection.
noun
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the act of inserting or something that is inserted
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a word, sentence, correction, etc, inserted into text, such as a newspaper
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a strip of lace, embroidery, etc, between two pieces of material
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anatomy the point or manner of attachment of a muscle to the bone that it moves
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botany the manner or point of attachment of one part to another
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Etymology
Origin of insertion
First recorded in 1570–80, insertion is from the Late Latin word insertiōn- (stem of insertiō ). See insert, -ion
Explanation
An insertion is when you put something into another thing, like the insertion of a key into a lock, or the insertion of a comment into a conversation. You probably notice that the noun insertion contains the verb insert, meaning “put in.” An insertion is something that’s put into something else. It can be used literally to describe, for example, the insertion of a page in a binder, but it also can be used more figuratively. For example, the insertion of the president into office happens every four years. And your brother may constantly make insertions into discussions he knows nothing about.
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Today paracervical blocks during IUD insertion in the United States remain rare.
From Slate • Jun. 7, 2026
"I wouldn't call it nominal orbital insertion," Huot said.
From BBC • May 23, 2026
At main engine cutoff, when the RS-25 engines shut down, the spacecraft was traveling at more than 18,000 miles per hour and reached its intended orbital insertion point with high precision.
From Science Daily • May 4, 2026
During the process, the insertion of a breathing tube damaged his vocal cords, leaving him questioning whether he would ever be able to sing again, he told The Times in 2021.
From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 1, 2026
But a skilled writer can enliven and sometimes electrify her prose with the judicious insertion of a surprising word.
From "The Sense of Style" by Steven Pinker
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
