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

3

: the quality or state of being incisive

Synonyms

• slit
• tear

Examples of incision in a Sentence

the surgeon made a thin incision with the scalpel

Recent Examples on the Web

The surgeon makes a small incision to remove part of the stomach that contains the tumor. —Carrie Madormo, Health, 18 Oct. 2025

This design allows doctors to deposit the bio-ink exactly where it is needed without making any incision. —Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 17 Oct. 2025

This surgery involves a smaller incision. —Jolene Edgar, Allure, 15 Oct. 2025

The hospital was the first Belgian hospital to introduce the single port Da Vinci robot, enabling complex procedures through a single incision or natural orifice. —Christophe Mouton, MSNBC Newsweek, 8 Oct. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

14th 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