Dictionary.com
Thesaurus.com

minimally invasive

American  
Or minimal invasive

adjective

  1. (of medical treatments or procedures) requiring only a small incision or the insertion of an instrument into a body cavity; involving minimal damage of body tissue.

    minimally invasive endoscopy.


minimally invasive British  

adjective

  1. (of surgery) involving as little incision into the body as possible, through the use of techniques such as keyhole surgery and laser treatment

"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 minimally invasive

First recorded in 1965–70

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:

Administration officials and advisers have said they are balancing innovation and security and trying to address safety risks in the most minimally invasive way possible.

From The Wall Street Journal Jul. 2, 2026

The state of Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania described this as a "minimally invasive" approach - but wildlife experts said any interventions carried considerable risk after previous rescue attempts failed.

From BBC Apr. 16, 2026

“We believe deeply that patients requiring cardiac surgery can benefit from a minimally invasive approach with da Vinci.”

From Barron's Jan. 23, 2026

Boston Scientific is spending $14.5 billion in cash and stock to buy Penumbra, another medical-device maker that makes products used in minimally invasive procedures to treat conditions such as pulmonary embolism and stroke.

From MarketWatch Jan. 15, 2026

Success could lead to a minimally invasive treatment that lasts longer and reduces the need for repeat procedures.

From Science Daily Jan. 2, 2026

Vocabulary.com logo
by dictionary.com

Join 12,000,000 vocabulary learners

Start learning new words today on VocabTrainer.
You'll remember them forever.

Start training