incision

noun

in·​ci·​sion in-ˈsi-zhən 

1

a

: cut, gash

specifically : a wound made especially in surgery by incising the body

b

: a marginal notch (as in a leaf)

2

: an act of incising something

a surgeon's skillful incision

3

: the quality or state of being incisive

Synonyms of incision

• slit
• tear

Examples of incision in a Sentence

the surgeon made a thin incision with the scalpel

Recent Examples on the Web

Male mice also recovered faster from a small surgical incision and from being restrained in a tube for two hours — a scenario designed to mimic the physical and emotional stress of a car accident. —Aria Bendix, NBC news, 20 Feb. 2026

The procedure uses a thin, flexible catheter introduced through a small incision in the femoral artery near the groin. —Memorialcare, Oc Register, 16 Feb. 2026

To speed the softening process, start by making a small incision in each tomato with a paring knife. —Lynda Balslev, Mercury News, 16 Feb. 2026

Every part of him was by design, with the scars on his body reflecting incisions that those studying human anatomy in the 18th century would have made. —Carlos Aguilar, Los Angeles Times, 10 Feb. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Rhymes for incision

• abscission
• collision
• decision
• derision
• division
• elision
• envision
• excision
• misprision
• precision
• prevision
• provision

Kids Definition

incision

noun

in·​ci·​sion in-ˈsizh-ən 

1

: a cut or gash made in something

especially : a cut made into the body during surgery

removed the diseased appendix through a small incision

2

: an act of cutting into something

watched the surgeon's skillful incision

Medical Definition

incision

noun

in·​ci·​sion in-ˈsizh-ən 

1

: a cut or wound of body tissue made especially in surgery

2

: an act of incising something

the surgeon's incision of the tissues