cesarean section

noun

variants or caesarean section or less commonly cesarian section or caesarian section, often Cesarean section

: a surgical procedure involving incision of the walls of the abdomen and uterus for delivery of offspring

Examples of cesarean section in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Their second son, Eddie, was born in July 2024 via cesarean section. —Murat Ates, New York Times, 15 Jan. 2026

This week in 1794, Elizabeth Hog Bennett became the first woman in the United States to successfully give birth to a child by Cesarean section. —Scott Lafee, San Diego Union-Tribune, 13 Jan. 2026

The mom had a cesarean section (C-section) just two weeks after she was diagnosed with severe pre-eclampsia. —Hannah Sacks, PEOPLE, 6 Jan. 2026

Over the next twelve or thirteen years, Lotte will get pregnant, marry Alfred, and survive war, displacement, hunger, and five Cesarean sections. —Literary Hub, 8 Dec. 2025

Word History

Etymology

from the legendary association of such a delivery with the Roman cognomen Caesar

First Known Use

1607, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for cesarean section

• interconnection
• microinjection
• superinfection
• abjection
• advection
• affection
• bijection
• bisection
• collection
• complexion
• confection
• connection

Kids Definition

cesarean section

noun

variants or caesarean section

often capitalized C

: a surgical operation making an opening in the walls of the abdomen and uterus for delivery of a baby

Etymology

from Cesar, alternate form of Caesar, and -ean (adjective suffix); from the belief that the original bearer of the name Caesar was cut (Latin caesus) from his mother's womb

Medical Definition

cesarean section

noun

sometimes capitalized C

: a surgical procedure involving incision of the walls of the abdomen and uterus for delivery of offspring

Even a history of multiple cesarean sections need not exclude a pregnant woman from attempting a vaginal delivery, new research indicates.

—Science News

called also cesarean, C-section