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

3

: the quality or state of being incisive

Synonyms

• gash
• laceration
• rent
• rip
• slash
• slit
• tear

Examples of incision in a Sentence

the surgeon made a thin incision with the scalpel

Recent Examples on the Web

In laparoscopic surgery, several small incisions are made through which a surgeon can access the abdominal organs. —Amber J. Tresca, Verywell Health, 25 Apr. 2025

Now, in the fifth hour of surgery, a physician’s assistant leaned over her midsection, closing an incision along her side with some final stitches. —T. Christian Miller, ProPublica, 12 Apr. 2025

The procedure involved an incision in the actor's spine and the removal of four bones from his neck, which were replaced by artificial bone. —Rachel Raposas, People.com, 12 Apr. 2025

Even as Jesus is shown nailed to the cross, the points of incision on his palms are blurred and blood never enters the frame. —Carlos Aguilar, Variety, 11 Apr. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

14th 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