debridement

noun

de·​bride·​ment di-ˈbrēd-mənt 

dā-,

-ˌmänt,

dā-brēd-ˈmäⁿ 

medical

: the usually surgical removal of lacerated, devitalized, or contaminated tissue

debride

di-ˈbrēd  dā- 

transitive verb

Examples of debridement in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Bobby Krivitsky: Jaylen Brown recently underwent a right knee arthroscopic debridement procedure. —Bobby Krivitsky, Forbes.com, 15 June 2025

Over the subsequent weeks and months, Smith underwent a total of 17 surgeries including nearly daily debridements to remove the infected tissue and limb salvage procedures. —Lipi Roy, Forbes.com, 16 May 2025

The back of the bullpen looks to be one of the Orioles’ strengths, particularly after free-agent addition Andrew Kittredge returns from a left knee debridement, potentially in late May. —Ken Rosenthal, New York Times, 28 Apr. 2025

For weeks afterward, Arnold was subjected to daily rounds of extremely painful debridement procedures, which involved being hosed down with chemicals designed to dissolve damaged and dead tissue to prevent infections. —Théoden Janes, Charlotte Observer, 27 Apr. 2025

Word History

Etymology

French débridement, from débrider to remove adhesions, literally, to unbridle, from Middle French desbrider, from des- de- + bride bridle, from Middle High German brīdel — more at bridle

First Known Use

circa 1842, in the meaning defined above

Medical Definition

debridement

noun

de·​bride·​ment di-ˈbrēd-mənt  dā- 

-ˌmänt,

-ˌmäⁿ

: the usually surgical removal of lacerated, devitalized, or contaminated tissue