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

In the West, a new technique which employed ultrasonic waves to break down the cloudy lens, allowing the debris to be suctioned out through a small incision was being developed and perfected. —Pasquale Hinrichs, CNN Money, 15 Dec. 2025

Facelifts will target the midface through smaller incisions. —Jolene Edgar, Allure, 11 Dec. 2025

Toward clinical use Early surgical evaluations show the device can be inserted through a minimally invasive skull incision and slid onto the brain’s surface without penetrating tissue or requiring wires that tether the implant to bone. —Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 8 Dec. 2025

Instead of big incisions, doctors at Einstein are using tiny scopes with tips that freeze. —Stephanie Stahl, CBS News, 8 Dec. 2025

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