prosthesis

American  

[pros-thee-sis, pros-thuh-sis] / prɒsˈθi sɪs, ˈprɒs θə sɪs /

noun

plural

prostheses

1. a device, either external or implanted, that substitutes for or supplements a missing or defective part of the body.

2. Grammar, Prosody. the addition of one or more sounds or syllables to a word or line of verse, especially at the beginning.

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prosthesis British  

/ ˈprɒsθɪsɪs, prɒsˈθiːsɪs, prɒsˈθɛtɪk /

noun

1. surgery

   1. the replacement of a missing bodily part with an artificial substitute

   2. an artificial part such as a limb, eye, or tooth

2. linguistics another word for prothesis

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prosthesis Scientific  

/ prŏs-thē′sĭs /

plural

prostheses

1. An artificial device used to replace a missing or defective body part, such as a limb or a heart valve.

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Other Word Forms

• prosthetic adjective
• prosthetically adverb

Etymology

Origin of prosthesis

1545–55; < Late Latin < Greek prósthesis a putting to, addition, equivalent to prós to + thésis a placing; thesis

Example Sentences

“Equipped with a prosthesis simulating a glass eye over his pupil,” we are told, Mr. Day-Lewis “practiced hitting it with the tip of his knife without batting an eyelid.”

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 1, 2026

Elizabeth, 38, from Leven, spotted the prosthesis, which she first thought was a gas canister, on one of her usual walks from Hornsea.

From BBC • Feb. 11, 2026

She also has a white prosthesis in the place of one leg.

From Salon • Sep. 26, 2025

Vázquez continued to have problems with his right eye, which required seven surgeries and was eventually removed in 2016 and replaced with a prosthesis.

From Los Angeles Times • Dec. 3, 2024

He slides up a leg of his black jeans and takes off a black, high-topped sneaker, then a prosthesis.

From "Enrique's Journey" by Sonia Nazario