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

When removing a tumor from a patient’s breast, surgeons sometimes make an incision in the armpit and take a small amount of lymph node tissue to see if the cancer has spread there. — Allessandra Dicorato, STAT, 8 Oct. 2026

The medical team had trouble finding a vein to administer the lethal drugs and finally made an incision in his groin area. — Ed White, Los Angeles Times, 3 Oct. 2026

This included the execution of Clarence Dixon, when medical officials reportedly had difficulty finding his vein and then opted to make an incision near his groin after about 25 minutes, according to the AP. — Victoria Arancio, ABC News, 1 Oct. 2026

Eye Surgery The incisions a doctor makes during eye surgery can irritate nerve fibers that signal the brain to make tears. — Nancy Lebrun, Verywell Health, 24 Sep. 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