circumcise

verb

cir·​cum·​cise ˈsər-kəm-ˌsīz 

circumcised; circumcising

transitive verb

: to cut off the foreskin of (a male) or the prepuce or clitoris and labia minora of (a female)

circumciser noun

Examples of circumcise in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

When Alex, my oldest child, was born, a friend who wasn’t Jewish suggested that he not be circumcised. —Nicholas Lemann, New Yorker, 21 Feb. 2026

The man himself might have argued forcefully that the one didn’t prove the other, that many Muslims in his hometown never bothered to circumcise their children. —Literary Hub, 20 Feb. 2026

There, the law requiring a medical license to perform circumcisions includes an exemption for circumcisions performed for religious reasons — but the rabbi was alleged to have circumcised babies who were not Jewish. —Philissa Cramer, Sun Sentinel, 16 Feb. 2026

Baldoni admitted to telling Lively that he was circumcised while discussing her pregnancy. —Wesley Stenzel, Entertainment Weekly, 5 Dec. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Latin circumcisus, past participle of circumcidere, from circum- + caedere to cut

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for circumcise

• advertise
• aggrandize
• agonize
• alibis
• alkalies
• alkalis
• amortize
• amplifies
• analyse
• analyze
• anywise
• authorize

Kids Definition

circumcise

verb

cir·​cum·​cise ˈsər-kəm-ˌsīz 

circumcised; circumcising

: to cut off the foreskin of

Medical Definition

circumcise

transitive verb

cir·​cum·​cise ˈsər-kəm-ˌsīz 

circumcised; circumcising

1

: to cut off the foreskin of (a male) or the prepuce of (a female)

2

: to cut off all or part of the external genitalia and especially the clitoris and labia minora of (a female) see female genital mutilation

circumciser noun