colonoscopy

noun

co·​lo·​nos·​co·​py ˌkō-lə-ˈnä-skə-pē 

plural colonoscopies

: endoscopic examination of the colon

colonoscope

kō-ˈlä-nə-ˌskōp 

noun

Examples of colonoscopy in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Think root canal, head lice, colonoscopies and Brussels sprouts. —J.c. Hallman, Oklahoma Watch, 22 Jan. 2026

Her nice thing was a colonoscopy. —Literary Hub, 16 Jan. 2026

For example, Medicare reimburses $1,375 for a colonoscopy performed in a hospital outpatient department — and $862 for one performed in an independent ambulatory surgery center. —Tomas J. Philipson, Fortune, 9 Jan. 2026

In less than a year, new Medicaid eligibility restrictions may lead millions of people to lose coverage and then miss potentially lifesaving cancer screenings like colonoscopies or mammograms. —Angus Chen, STAT, 8 Jan. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1926, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing colonoscopy

• virtual colonoscopy

Rhymes for colonoscopy

• laparoscopy
• arthroscopy
• colposcopy
• cystoscopy
• fluoroscopy
• spectroscopy

Medical Definition

colonoscopy

noun

co·​lo·​nos·​co·​py ˌkō-lə-ˈnäs-kə-pē  ˌkäl-ə- 

plural colonoscopies

: endoscopic examination of the colon

transabdominal colonoscopy with a sigmoidoscope via colotomy

colonoscopic

kō-ˌlän-ə-ˈskäp-ik 

adjective