vivisection

noun

viv·​i·​sec·​tion ˌvi-və-ˈsek-shən 

ˈvi-və-ˌsek-

1

: the cutting of or operation on a living animal usually for physiological or pathological investigation

broadly : animal experimentation especially if considered to cause distress to the subject

2

: minute or pitiless examination or criticism

vivisectional

ˌvi-və-ˈsek-sh(ə-)nəl

 

adjective

vivisectionist

ˌvi-və-ˈsek-sh(ə-)nist 

noun

Did you know?

Vivisection includes the Latin root sect, meaning "cut". The Greek physician Galen, who lived during the 2nd century A.D., practiced vivisection on live monkeys and dogs to learn such things as the role of the spinal cord in muscle activity and whether veins and arteries carry air or blood; his findings formed the basis of medical practice for more than a thousand years. Vivisection continues to be used in drug and medical research today, but often in secret, since it makes most people very uncomfortable and some groups are violently opposed to it.

Examples of vivisection in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

In lab research, one potential concern is performing live dissections, once known as vivisection, without anesthetics or analgesics. —Bob Fischer, The Conversation, 4 Apr. 2025

There certainly are other critiques of Trumpian corruption to be seen on Broadway this season, but few speak so eloquently as Mamet’s vivisection from 1983. —Greg Evans, Deadline, 31 Mar. 2025

Unit 731 is also believed to have performed vivisections and frozen prisoners to death in tests of endurance. —Mari Yamaguchi, USA TODAY, 24 July 2023

The title essay is arguably her masterpiece, a cool vivisection of a place and time when the center fell apart. —Boris Kachka, Los Angeles Times, 13 Apr. 2023

Word History

Etymology

Latin vivus + English section

First Known Use

1707, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing vivisection

• anti-vivisection

Rhymes for vivisection

• circumspection
• disaffection
• disconnection
• disinfection
• dorsiflexion
• imperfection
• indirection
• insurrection
• intellection
• interjection
• intersection
• introjection

Kids Definition

vivisection

noun

vivi·​sec·​tion

ˌviv-ə-ˈsek-shən

: the operating or experimenting on a living animal for scientific or medical study

Medical Definition

vivisection

noun

vivi·​sec·​tion ˌviv-ə-ˈsek-shən, ˈviv-ə-ˌ 

: the cutting of or operation on a living animal usually for physiological or pathological investigation

broadly : animal experimentation especially if considered to cause distress or result in injury or death to the subject

vivisect

-ˈsekt 

verb

vivisectional

ˌviv-ə-ˈsek-shnəl, -shən-ᵊl 

adjective