laceration
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Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Etymology
Origin of laceration
First recorded in 1590–1600, laceration is from the Latin word lacerātiōn- (stem of lacerātiō ). See lacerate, -ion
Explanation
A laceration is a tear, cut, or gash. Your heart can also get a more figurative laceration when you see your love kissing another. Either way, ouch. A laceration implies that there is a tearing or jaggedness to the wound. A surgeon would not make a laceration on a patient, but an incision. Lacerations are reserved for things like barbed wire, errant nails, and fickle loves.
Vocabulary lists containing laceration
All American Boys
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The Kite Runner
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That Hurts! Synonyms for "Pain"
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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.
See Examples For:
“I’m concurring with our forensic pathologist that the laceration is the cause of death, but that has nothing to do with my stance on immunization.”
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 4, 2026
One firefighter suffered a laceration injury and was taken to a hospital in stable condition, he said.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 3, 2026
"He had a small laceration to his beak and one just on the left side of his body - but other than that, he was pretty much absolutely fine," she said.
From BBC ● Dec. 19, 2025
Per the CPSC, “small metal pieces can detach from the garlic press, posing a laceration or ingestion hazard to consumers.”
From Salon ● Aug. 14, 2025
“The worst laceration was on your upper lip,” Armand said.
From "The Kite Runner" by Khaled Hosseini
Cordido suffered lacerations and is being cared for by a neighbor who is a nurse and visits him daily.
From Barron's ● Jul. 4, 2026
Two officers were treated for lacerations, according to city officials.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Feb. 26, 2026
His security guard said he suffered back injuries as well as lacerations and contusions.
From BBC ● Sep. 1, 2025
Sutter said the men, who are still hospitalized, have “broken bones, lacerations and abrasions” but are in stable condition.
From Los Angeles Times ● Nov. 2, 2024
Many were infected; ugly sores dotted the lining, and the stomachs had lacerations and bleeding patches.
From "City of the Plague God" by Sarwat Chadda
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.
