incision

noun

in·​ci·​sion in-ˈsi-zhən 

1

a

: cut, gash

specifically : a wound made especially in surgery by incising the body

b

: a marginal notch (as in a leaf)

2

: an act of incising something

a surgeon's skillful incision

3

: the quality or state of being incisive

Synonyms of incision

• slit
• tear

Examples of incision in a Sentence

the surgeon made a thin incision with the scalpel

Recent Examples on the Web

Doctors made long surgical incisions along his left leg, from his hip to his ankle, and along his inner calf and thigh. — Diane Herbst, PEOPLE, 6 Sep. 2026

The room was filled the quiet urgency that comes just before incision. — Debra Eluobaju, STAT, 3 Sep. 2026

The quotation should identify who designs the hairline, administers local anesthesia, performs recipient incisions and supervises graft placement. — Malana Vantyler, Kansas City Star, 2 Sep. 2026

The procedure involves making an incision behind the ear and drilling into the mastoid bone to reach the inner ear. — Marlee Ginter, CBS News, 28 Aug. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Rhymes for incision

• abscission
• collision
• decision
• derision
• division
• elision
• envision
• excision
• misprision
• precision
• prevision
• provision

Kids Definition

incision

noun

in·​ci·​sion in-ˈsizh-ən 

1

: a cut or gash made in something

especially : a cut made into the body during surgery

removed the diseased appendix through a small incision

2

: an act of cutting into something

watched the surgeon's skillful incision

Medical Definition

incision

noun

in·​ci·​sion in-ˈsizh-ən 

1

: a cut or wound of body tissue made especially in surgery

2

: an act of incising something

the surgeon's incision of the tissues