dissection

noun

dis·​sec·​tion dī-ˈsek-shən 

also

di-  ˈdī-ˌsek- 

1

: the act or process of dissecting : the state of being dissected

2

: an anatomical specimen prepared by dissecting

Synonyms

• analysis
• anatomizing
• anatomy
• assay
• breakdown
• deconstruction

Examples of dissection in a Sentence

the book's dissection of the problem of obesity in this country

Recent Examples on the Web

The lawsuits have often been a scathing dissection of what went wrong with Bankman-Fried’s project, such as an action in July against an entity called FTX Europe that argued the exchange had paid nearly $400 million for what amounted to a $2 million regulatory license. —Byleo Schwartz, Fortune Crypto, 19 Sep. 2023

The decision was also made in part because of the extensive dissection of her remains. —Lynda V. Mapes, Anchorage Daily News, 24 Aug. 2023

As the drama dies down from TikTok's dissection of Hailey Bieber's history with Selena Gomez, Hailey gave another public, low-key show of support for Selena. —Alyssa Bailey, ELLE, 27 Mar. 2023

Longtime coach was suffering from aortic dissection; Torrey Pines’ coach out with a personal medical issue of his own San Pasqual High School football coach Tony Corley had about an hour to live. —John Maffei, San Diego Union-Tribune, 30 Aug. 2023

In the modern social media version, where photos from Backgrid get disseminated almost instantly for dissection on a myriad of Instagram and TikTok accounts, famous people are now choosing to wear their message on their sleeve. —Stephanie McNeal, Glamour, 23 June 2023

There were snobbish dissections of his wardrobe and enthusiastic manner—though people were happy to attend parties in his honor and to take his money. —Clare Malone, The New Yorker, 23 Aug. 2023

No less searing is Branigan’s dissection of their sometimes flawed attempts at personal absolution. —Mary Gallagher, Foreign Affairs, 20 June 2023

After John Ritter's untimely death in 2003 from an aortic dissection, his family started the foundation to honor of his memory and his wife Amy Yasbeck continues to celebrate his legacy to this day. —Adrianna Freedman, Good Housekeeping, 14 May 2023

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Word History

First Known Use

1578, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

dissection

noun

dis·​sec·​tion -ˈsek-shən 

-ˌsek-

1

: the act or process of dissecting : the state of being dissected

2

: a plant or animal or a part of one that has been dissected for study of the anatomy

Medical Definition

dissection

noun

dis·​sec·​tion dis-ˈek-shən; dī-ˈsek-  ˈdī-ˌ 

1

: the act or process of dissecting or separating: as

a

: the surgical removal along natural lines of cleavage of tissues which are or might become diseased

b

: the digital separation of tissues (as in heart-valve operations) compare finger fracture

c

: a pathological splitting or separation of tissue see aortic dissection

2

a

: something (as a part or the whole of an animal) that has been dissected

b

: an anatomical specimen prepared in this way