colonoscopy

noun

co·​lo·​nos·​co·​py ˌkō-lə-ˈnä-skə-pē 

plural colonoscopies

: endoscopic examination of the colon

colonoscope

kō-ˈlä-nə-ˌskōp 

noun

Examples of colonoscopy in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

This was a valuable insight, to better allocate scarce resources in a country where the standard cost of a colonoscopy is half the average monthly income. — Caleb Hellerman, CNN Money, 4 Sep. 2026

Wearing a gray designer t-shirt and a pair of dangling gold Jesus pieces, Lee looked like a colonoscopy would’ve been less invasive. — Jeff Weiss, HollywoodReporter, 1 Sep. 2026

The records include emergency medical transportation, two hospital stays in August 2025 and follow-up care, including a colonoscopy in January 2026. — Anthony Thompson, USA Today, 25 Aug. 2026

If symptoms are present, the colonoscopy is classified as diagnostic rather than screening and is covered differently by insurance. — Hanna Wickes, Kansas City Star, 19 Aug. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1926, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing colonoscopy

• virtual colonoscopy

Rhymes for colonoscopy

• laparoscopy
• arthroscopy
• fluoroscopy
• spectroscopy

Medical Definition

colonoscopy

noun

co·​lo·​nos·​co·​py ˌkō-lə-ˈnäs-kə-pē  ˌkäl-ə- 

plural colonoscopies

: endoscopic examination of the colon

transabdominal colonoscopy with a sigmoidoscope via colotomy

colonoscopic

kō-ˌlän-ə-ˈskäp-ik 

adjective