avulsion

noun

avul·​sion ə-ˈvəl-shən How to pronounce avulsion (audio)
: a forcible separation or detachment: such as
a
: a tearing away of a body part accidentally or surgically
b
: a sudden cutting off of land by flood, currents, or change in course of a body of water
especially : one separating land from one person's property and joining it to another's

Examples of avulsion in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web The crux of the issue is whether Garoppolo can realistically play with a torn ulnar collateral ligament and an associated avulsion fracture of his thumb against the Rams on Sunday, which would be 17 days removed from his injury. Eric Branch, San Francisco Chronicle, 3 Jan. 2022 The woman later died from avulsion — or tearing — of skin from her forearms, while also battling dementia, and lung and heart disease. Sahana Jayaraman, AZCentral.com, 27 June 2023 This was no natural avulsion, however. Fred Pearce, Science | AAAS, 13 May 2021 Dallas has also dealt with its fair share of changes on the offensive line when Tyron Smith went down with a hamstring injury and avulsion fracture that required surgery. Dallas News, 9 Sep. 2022 Tyron Smith suffered a torn hamstring tendon with an avulsion fracture to the left knee before the season got underway. Dallas News, 2 Dec. 2022 The Portland Trail Blazers announced Friday that rookie guard Shaedon Sharpe has been diagnosed with a volar avulsion fracture to his right fifth finger. oregonlive, 11 Nov. 2022 He was thrown out and left with an injury, which was diagnosed as an avulsion fracture in a finger on his right hand. Andy Kostka, Baltimore Sun, 26 July 2022 Hamidou Diallo will miss the rest of the 2021-22 season with a left index finger avulsion fracture, the Detroit Pistons announced Friday. Omari Sankofa Ii, Detroit Free Press, 25 Mar. 2022

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'avulsion.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1622, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of avulsion was in 1622

Dictionary Entries Near avulsion

Cite this Entry

“Avulsion.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/avulsion. Accessed 18 Mar. 2024.

Medical Definition

avulsion

noun
avul·​sion ə-ˈvəl-shən How to pronounce avulsion (audio)
: a tearing away of a body part accidentally or surgically
avulsion of the fingernail

Legal Definition

avulsion

noun
avul·​sion ə-ˈvəl-shən How to pronounce avulsion (audio)
: a sudden cutting off of land by flood or change in the course of a body of water
especially : one that separates a portion from one person's property and joins it to the property of another compare accretion
Etymology

Latin avulsio act of tearing away, from avellere to tear away, from a- off, away + vellere to pull, pluck

More from Merriam-Webster on avulsion

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!