vasectomy

American  

[va-sek-tuh-mee] / væˈsɛk tə mi /

noun

Surgery.

PLURAL

vasectomies

1. excision of the vas deferens, or of a portion of it: performed to effect sterility in men.

---

vasectomy British  

/ væˈsɛktəmɪ /

noun

1. surgical removal of all or part of the vas deferens, esp as a method of contraception

---

vasectomy Scientific  

/ və-sĕk′tə-mē /

1. Surgical removal of all or part of the vas deferens, resulting in sterility.

---

vasectomy Cultural  

1. A surgical procedure in which the ducts that carry sperm out of the testes are cut and tied off so that no sperm can pass. Vasectomy is a form of male sterilization and is used as a method of birth control. The procedure has no effect on a man's capacity to produce semen; the only difference is that his semen will no longer contain sperm.

---

Other Word Forms

• postvasectomy adjective

Etymology

Origin of vasectomy

First recorded in 1895–1900; vas (deferens) + -ectomy

Example Sentences

Funny side characters—the enlightened mom who looks down on people who use diapers; the chatty wife who will not stop talking about her husband’s vasectomy—fill out a believable cast.

From The Wall Street Journal

Junior officers enforced the order ruthlessly - contract labourers were told, "No advances, no jobs, unless you get vasectomies."

From BBC

In 2023, preliminary data found a significant uptick in vasectomy consultations.

From Salon

Wade via the Dobbs decision, giving states control to restrict abortion, Google recorded the highest volume of searches for “vasectomy” in the past five years.

From Salon

As a result, they have taken a "definitive decision" - Chris is seeking to have a vasectomy, after years of Gemma having a contraceptive implant.

From BBC

Related Words

• abstinence
• condom
• contraceptive
• diaphragm
• family planning
• pill