excision

noun ex·ci·sion \ ik-ˈsi-zhən \

|Updated on: 20 Jul 2018

Definition of excision

: the act or procedure of removing by or as if by cutting out; especially : surgical removal or resection

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excisional

play \ik-ˈsizh-nəl, -ˈsi-zhə-nəl\ adjective

Recent Examples of excision from the Web

Surgical biopsy: This form of biopsy involves removing either a portion of your mass (this is called an incisional biopsy) or the entire thing (known as excisional biopsy, wide local excision, or lumpectomy), according to the Mayo Clinic.

— korin miller, SELF, "8 Helpful Things to Know About Getting a Breast Biopsy Before It Happens," 27 June 2018
In rare situations, some insurance companies cover excision of a painful keloid scar resulting from earlobe repair, Dr. Giordano says, adding that this is uncommon and only happens if your body doesn’t react well to the repair in the first place.

— talia abbas, SELF, "So, You Ripped a Hole in Your Earlobe—Here's How to Fix It," 1 May 2018
The seriousness of Hamon's rejection required a complete excision of his face in November.

— jacqueline howard, CNN, "Man's second face transplant is a world first," 17 Apr. 2018
The procedure would have involved temporary surgical removal of part of the frontal bone of the skull and excision of the bone tumor to close the leak that was sending air into the brain.

— mark lieber, CNN, "Doctors find air pocket hidden in man's brain," 13 Mar. 2018
In perhaps his first architectural excision, Matta-Clark tore out the storefront’s walls to achieve an open-plan kitchen and exhibited one of the fragments as a sculpture at 112 Greene Street.

— roberta smith, New York Times, "Back in the Bronx: Gordon Matta-Clark, Rogue Sculptor," 11 Jan. 2018
Between 1965 and 1970, the Mass underwent not just a precise, minor excision or addition here or there, as in the past.

— nicholas frankovich, National Review, "All Americans Are a Little Italian, Christians Are Spiritually Jewish," 21 Sep. 2017
Depending on the location of the pregnancy, other excisions, such as an oophorectomy (removal of the ovary) might be needed in place of or in addition to the salpingectomy.

— joanna petrone, Longreads, "Pregnant, then Ruptured," 18 Aug. 2017
The photo shows the results of an excision — a.k.a.

— macaela mackenzie, Allure, "Here's Why You Should NEVER Go For Bargain Lip Fillers," 15 Aug. 2017

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