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maxillofacial

American  
[mak-sil-oh-fey-shuhl] / mækˌsɪl oʊˈfeɪ ʃəl /

adjective

Anatomy.
  1. of, relating to, or affecting the jaws and the face.

    maxillofacial surgery.


maxillofacial British  
/ mækˌsɪləʊˈfeɪʃəl, ˌmæksɪləʊ- /

adjective

  1. of, relating to, or affecting the upper jawbone and face

    maxillofacial surgery

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of maxillofacial

First recorded in 1920–25; maxill(a) + -o- + facial

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.

Her face and teeth were agony and she discovered later from a maxillofacial surgeon, that he had knocked her vagus nerve out of place.

From BBC • Mar. 30, 2026

"Third-molar surgery is a multibillion-dollar industry that generates significant income for the dental profession, particularly oral and maxillofacial surgeons," Friedman writes.

From Salon • May 7, 2024

Dr. Karan Ganjawalla, a 32-year-old maxillofacial surgery resident at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston, ditched his scrubs for biking gear on May 23 and made a special house call.

From New York Times • Dec. 11, 2020

Pratt asked a colleague, the San Francisco-based maxillofacial surgeon Douglas Ousterhout, if there was anything he could do for his patient.

From The Guardian • Nov. 10, 2020

Bill Baker, whose tying goal against Sweden in round-robin play made the rest of the miracle possible, recently retired after 25 years as an oral and maxillofacial surgeon in Minnesota.

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 23, 2020