surgery

American  

[sur-juh-ree] / ˈsɜr dʒə ri /

noun

plural

surgeries

1. the art, practice, or work of treating diseases, injuries, or deformities by manual or operative procedures.

2. the branch of medicine concerned with such treatment.

3. treatment, as an operation, performed by a surgeon.

4. a room or place for surgical operations.

5. British. a doctor's or dentist's office or office hours.

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surgery British  

/ ˈsɜːdʒərɪ /

noun

1. the branch of medicine concerned with treating disease, injuries, etc, by means of manual or operative procedures, esp by incision into the body

2. the performance of such procedures by a surgeon

3. a place where a doctor, dentist, etc, can be consulted

4. an occasion when an MP, lawyer, etc, is available for consultation

5. an operating theatre where surgical operations are performed

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Other Word Forms

• presurgery adjective

Etymology

Origin of surgery

1250–1300; Middle English surgerie < Old French cirurgerie chirurgery

Example Sentences

Fitness fanatic Aimee Oliver never imagined that giving birth would ultimately cause her to need surgery for incontinence.

From BBC • Apr. 8, 2026

It wasn’t until his first back surgery in 2014 that his career plummeted for good.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 8, 2026

Intuitive pioneered and continues to lead the market for robot-assisted surgery, and also participated in Sovato’s latest funding round, alongside other investors like Teladoc Health.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 8, 2026

After waiting a year to go private, the endometriosis was eventually found when Knell underwent surgery.

From BBC • Apr. 8, 2026

She could never pick the right medicine for someone or do surgery.

From "Caterpillar Summer" by Gillian McDunn