avulsion

noun

avul·​sion ə-ˈvəl-shən 

: 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

Lange sustained an avulsion in his right lat during a minor-league game with the Tigers. — Kansas City Star, 11 Feb. 2026

The procedure for a tendon avulsion surgery carries a rehab of 10 to 12 months. — Abbey Mastracco, New York Daily News, 9 May 2025

But starting point guard Sam Cassell suffered an avulsion fracture in his hip at the end of the conference semifinals. — Jace Frederick, Twin Cities, 30 Apr. 2026

Backup center Drew Eubanks returned after missing seven games due to an avulsion fracture in his left thumb. — Jason Anderson, Sacbee.com, 31 Dec. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1622, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for avulsion

• compulsion
• convulsion
• emulsion
• expulsion
• impulsion
• propulsion
• repulsion
• revulsion
• microemulsion

Medical Definition

avulsion

noun

avul·​sion ə-ˈvəl-shən 

: a tearing away of a body part accidentally or surgically

avulsion of the fingernail

Legal Definition

avulsion

noun

avul·​sion ə-ˈvəl-shən 

: 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