dissection

noun

dis·​sec·​tion dī-ˈsek-shən 

also

di-  ˈdī-ˌsek- 

1

: the act or process of dissecting : the state of being dissected

2

: an anatomical specimen prepared by dissecting

Synonyms of dissection

• analysis
• examination
• investigation

Examples of dissection in a Sentence

the book's dissection of the problem of obesity in this country

Recent Examples on the Web

In September 2003, Ritter died at the age of 54 after suffering an acute aortic dissection, a tear in the inner layer of the aorta, the body's largest artery that delivers blood away from the heart. — Ashley Hume , Larry Fink, FOXNews.com, 19 Sep. 2026

Doctors determined that a vertebral artery dissection caused the stroke, according to WBNS. — Madison E. Goldberg, PEOPLE, 17 Sep. 2026

Hours later, the 54-year-old was pronounced dead, eventually being diagnosed with aortic dissection, a rare, often fatal condition that occurs when a tear develops on the inner lining of the aortic artery, per the Cleveland Clinic. — Ryan Coleman, Entertainment Weekly, 15 Sep. 2026

There are many points in the New Delhi Declaration that analysts noted will take careful dissection and study over the next few weeks. — Mayu Saini, Footwear News, 14 Sep. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1578, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for dissection

• abjection
• advection
• affection
• bijection
• bisection
• collection
• complexion
• confection
• connection
• connexion
• convection
• correction

Kids Definition

dissection

noun

dis·​sec·​tion -ˈsek-shən 

-ˌsek-

1

: the act or process of dissecting : the state of being dissected

2

: a plant or animal or a part of one that has been dissected for study of the anatomy

Medical Definition

dissection

noun

dis·​sec·​tion dis-ˈek-shən; dī-ˈsek-  ˈdī-ˌ 

1

: the act or process of dissecting or separating: as

a

: the surgical removal along natural lines of cleavage of tissues which are or might become diseased

b

: the digital separation of tissues (as in heart-valve operations) compare finger fracture

c

: a pathological splitting or separation of tissue see aortic dissection

2

a

: something (as a part or the whole of an animal) that has been dissected

b

: an anatomical specimen prepared in this way