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root canal

American

noun

Dentistry.

Also called pulp canal. the root portion of the pulp cavity.
Informal. root canal therapy.

root canal British

noun

the passage in the root of a tooth through which its nerves and blood vessels enter the pulp cavity

"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 root canal

First recorded in 1890–95

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.

“One car survey showed customers would rather have a root canal than negotiate a car at a dealership,” said Jesse Toprak, a former automotive analyst who now runs OptiCar.AI, an online marketplace for cars.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 13, 2026

It is vital that dental professionals recognize the wider impact of these root canal infections and advocate for early diagnosis and treatment.

From Science Daily • Mar. 15, 2026

Unlike a typical root canal, the dental experts went in through the bottom of Rico's tooth.

From BBC • Apr. 17, 2025

For others, it’s as nerve-racking as a root canal.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 16, 2025

“Your dad scheduled a root canal at five P.M., so we won’t be home until later.”

From "Love, Hate & Other Filters" by Samira Ahmed

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023