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

Kennedy also mentioned a Danish study from 2015 that concluded that boys who are circumcised may have a greater risk of developing autism. —Aria Bendix, NBC news, 11 Oct. 2025

Scientists who conducted the 2015 study examined rates of autism among 3,347 predominantly Jewish and Muslim boys who were ritually circumcised in the hospital or in doctor’s clinics. —Allison Parshall, Scientific American, 9 Oct. 2025

Kennedy also said children circumcised shortly after birth have twice the rate of autism because they are given Tylenol for pain relief following the procedure. —Gabe Whisnant, MSNBC Newsweek, 9 Oct. 2025

However, the baby’s health allegedly took a turn for the worse after he was circumcised the evening of April 14. —Vanessa Etienne, People.com, 28 Apr. 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