insertion

noun in·ser·tion \ in-ˈsər-shən \

Updated on: 16 Apr 2018

Definition of insertion

1 : something that is inserted: such as

a : the part of a muscle that inserts

b : the mode or place of attachment of an organ or part

c : embroidery or needlework inserted as ornament between two pieces of fabric

d : a section of genetic material that is inserted into an existing gene sequence

2 a : the act or process of inserting

b : the mutational process producing a genetic insertion

—

insertional

play \in-ˈsər-shnəl, -shə-nᵊl\ adjective

See insertion defined for English-language learners

See insertion defined for kids

Examples of insertion in a Sentence

Treatment may include the insertion of a tube in his ear.
The report contains a number of insertions.

Recent Examples of insertion from the Web

The Census Bureau’s own expert advisory panel alluded to this, cautioning that the insertion of a citizenship question would lead to an incorrect census count.

— marta induni, STAT, "Adding a citizenship question to the 2020 census would be disastrous for public health," 13 Apr. 2018
So maybe Halliday is his authorial insertion character, the mad scientist who saw how his creation got out of control.

— todd vanderwerff, Vox, "George Lucas doesn’t appear in Ready Player One. Or does he?," 3 Apr. 2018
There are now about a dozen individual changes in the amino acids used to make the protein, and the nearby DNA has picked up both an insertion (an intron) and several deletions.

— john timmer, Ars Technica, "A battle between the sexes in a single gene," 23 Feb. 2018
The good news is that removal of the IUD is a breeze compared to insertion.

— macaela mackenzie, Allure, "9 Facts About IUD Birth Control to Help Determine If It's Right for You," 26 Jan. 2018
Some serious cramps may happen during the numbing injection, the measuring of the uterine cavity, or the insertion of the IUD itself, MacIsaac notes.

— lori keong, Marie Claire, "If You’re Freaking Out About Getting an IUD, Here’s What to Know About the Insertion Process," 30 Oct. 2017
So long as a genetic alteration could have been bred in a plant—say a simple deletion, base pair swap, or insertion from a reproductively compatible relative—it won’t be regulated.

— megan molteni, WIRED, "Crispr’d Food, Coming Soon to a Supermarket Near You," 30 Mar. 2018
The Smile Club can offer practical tips for dental health and tips to treat the diseases and conditions that affect the teeth and gums, including the repair and extraction of teeth and the insertion of artificial ones.

— david taylor, Houston Chronicle, "Dayton chamber to sponsor health fair Friday," 19 Mar. 2018
After the insertion, there’s not much maintenance involved.

— korin miller, SELF, "7 Signs an IUD Is Right for You—and 5 It Isn’t," 18 Jan. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'insertion.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

First Known Use of insertion

1539

INSERTION Defined for English Language Learners

insertion

noun

Definition of insertion for English Language Learners

: the act or process of putting something into something else : the act or process of inserting something
: something (such as a comment) that is added to a piece of writing : something that is inserted