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

Instruments fit through small incisions, and a surgeon controls the robot throughout. —Samantha Agate, Charlotte Observer, 26 Mar. 2026

Instruments fit through small incisions, and a surgeon controls the robot throughout each procedure. —Samantha Agate, Miami Herald, 26 Mar. 2026

Instruments fit through small incisions. —Samantha Agate, Kansas City Star, 26 Mar. 2026

The images can be seen on a video screen, after the tube is inserted through a small incision. —Anna Kaufman, USA Today, 24 Mar. 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