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

Unlike the older strip method (which required cutting a band of scalp from the back of the head and left a prominent linear scar), FUE extracts individual follicles through tiny circular incisions. —Matthew Kayser, Ascend Agency, 16 Jan. 2026

Use a sharp knife to make a crosswise incision on top of burratas. —C.w. Cameron, AJC.com, 11 Jan. 2026

Green Smith felt a pop; her incision opened, there was bleeding, and she was rushed back to the operating room for emergency surgery, Wardlaw was told. —Leah Asmelash, CNN Money, 10 Jan. 2026

But in the days afterward, her incision site ruptured, Wardlaw said. —Bracey Harris, NBC news, 9 Jan. 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