amputate

verb

am·​pu·​tate ˈam-pyə-ˌtāt 

amputated; amputating

transitive verb

: to remove by or as if by cutting

especially : to cut (a part, such as a limb) from the body

amputation

ˌam-pyə-ˈtā-shən 

noun

Examples of amputate in a Sentence

His arm was badly injured and had to be amputated.

Recent Examples on the Web

Brandon wrote that his mother had been fighting for her life in the ICU and needed emergency surgery to amputate her left leg above the knee. —David Chiu, PEOPLE, 12 Nov. 2025

While she was being initially treated at a Pensacola hospital, multiple people — including friends of friends and the surgeon who amputated her hand — recommended Glenn Gaston, an orthopedic surgeon and director of the OrthoCarolina Hand Center. —Théoden Janes, Charlotte Observer, 6 Nov. 2025

The main characters, who wake up chained to pipes, quickly realize amputating their own foot is the only means of escape. —The Atlantic Culture Desk, The Atlantic, 29 Oct. 2025

Catherine’s right leg was lacerated to the bone and nearly amputated by a propeller. —Grethel Aguila, Miami Herald, 20 Oct. 2025

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from Latin amputātus, past participle of amputāre "to prune back (a plant), prune away, remove by cutting (unwanted parts or features), cut off (a branch, limb, body part)," from am-, assimilated variant of amb- "about, around" + putāre "to prune, make clean or tidy, scour (wool)" — more at ambient entry 1, putative

First Known Use

1612, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for amputate

• abdicate
• abrogate
• acetate
• activate
• actuate
• adsorbate
• aggravate
• agitate
• alginate
• alienate
• allocate
• angulate

Kids Definition

amputate

verb

am·​pu·​tate ˈam-pyə-ˌtāt 

amputated; amputating

: to cut off

especially : to cut off an arm or leg from the body

amputation

ˌam-pyə-ˈtā-shən 

noun

Medical Definition

amputate

transitive verb

am·​pu·​tate ˈam-pyə-ˌtāt 

amputated; amputating

: to cut (as a limb) from the body

amputation

ˌam-pyə-ˈtā-shən 

noun