circumcision

noun cir·cum·ci·sion \ ˌsər-kᵊm-ˈsi-zhən , ˈsər-kᵊm-ˌ \

|Updated on: 16 Jun 2018

Definition of circumcision

1 a : the act of circumcising; especially : the cutting off of the foreskin of males that is practiced as a religious rite by Jews and Muslims and by others as a social custom or for potential health benefits (such as improved hygiene)

b : female genital mutilation

c : the condition of being circumcised

2 capitalized : January 1 observed as a festival in some churches in commemoration of the circumcision of Jesus

See circumcision defined for kids

Recent Examples of circumcision from the Web

To Nima Zamani, a radio host born in Denmark to Iranian refugees, the issue of circumcision is personal.

— martin selsoe sorensen, New York Times, "Denmark Talks (Reluctantly) About a Ban on Circumcising Boys," 2 June 2018
To Nima Zamani, a radio host born in Denmark to Iranian refugees, the issue of circumcision is personal.

— martin selsoe sorensen, The Seattle Times, "Denmark talks (reluctantly) about a ban on circumcising boys," 2 June 2018
But in a play both funny and poignant, the parents are at odds over whether to go through with the circumcision ritual.

— christine dolen, miamiherald, "Summer Shorts Festival means summer has arrived," 29 May 2018
Good Trouble, by Joseph O’Neill The angst of modern life pervades the daily lives of the characters in these stories from the author of Netherland, whose subversive humor finds new angles on everything from facial hair to circumcision.

— time staff, Time, "22 New Books to Read This Summer," 22 May 2018
The World Health Organization estimates that the overall male circumcision rate in the states is somewhere between 76 and 92 percent compared to less than 20 percent in Western European countries, as reported by the Washington Post.

— mark price, charlotteobserver, "Men with red-stained crotches will protest circumcision in Charlotte this weekend | Charlotte Observer," 23 Mar. 2018
The foreskin is collected during circumcision, at which point the stem cells are extracted through a centrifuge.

— maria del russo, Glamour, "I Got a $650 'Penis Facial,' and My Skin Has Never Looked Better," 4 May 2018
Throughout history, attempts to prohibit circumcision have been tantamount to rejection of the existence of the Jewish people.

— carin m. smilk, Jewish Journal, "Jewish groups praise Iceland committee's proposal against banning circumcision," 1 May 2018
Bloodstained Men says healthcare profits and lack of understanding keep routine circumcision alive in the U.S., even as other countries shun the practice.

— mark price, charlotteobserver, "Men with red-stained crotches will protest circumcision in Charlotte this weekend | Charlotte Observer," 23 Mar. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'circumcision.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.