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

Scar tissue healing During the postpartum period, parents may be healing from C-section incisions and vaginal tearing. —​wendy Wisner, Parents, 27 Feb. 2026

The ability to pull a clot out of the blood vessels to the lung with nothing more than a small incision in the groin is remarkable. —Daniel Torrent, STAT, 25 Feb. 2026

Long, deep incisions are made on either side of the injury, allowing the swollen muscles some room to move and relieving the buildup of pressure. —Claire Maldarelli, Scientific American, 24 Feb. 2026

The complication is treated with incisions in the leg. —Mia Fishman, CNN Money, 23 Feb. 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