neurosurgery

noun

neu·​ro·​sur·​gery ˌnu̇r-ō-ˈsər-jə-rē 

-ˈsərj-rē, 

ˌnyu̇r-

: surgery of nervous structures (such as nerves, the brain, or the spinal cord)

neurosurgeon

ˌnu̇r-ō-ˈsər-jən 

ˌnyu̇r-

noun

neurosurgical

ˌnu̇r-ō-ˈsər-ji-kəl 

ˌnyu̇r-

adjective

Examples of neurosurgery in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

This is especially true in high-risk specialties such as obstetrics, neurosurgery, emergency medicine, and surgery, where adverse outcomes can occur despite appropriate care. — Sachin H. Jain, Forbes.com, 6 May 2026

Precision is vital in neurosurgery, where even a single millimeter can determine whether a patient retains the ability to speak or move. — Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 21 Apr. 2026

Richard Menger is the vice chair of neurosurgery and an assistant professor of political science at the University of South Alabama. — Richard Menger, Washington Post, 20 Apr. 2026

Patients with hemimegalencephaly can suffer from unremitting epilepsy and intellectual disabilities, and often need neurosurgery during infancy. — Jerome Groopman, New Yorker, 6 Apr. 2026

Word History

Etymology

neuro- + surgery

First Known Use

1904, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for neurosurgery

• cryosurgery
• microsurgery
• psychosurgery
• perjury
• surgery
• radiosurgery

Medical Definition

neurosurgery

noun

neu·​ro·​sur·​gery -ˈsərj-(ə-)rē 

plural neurosurgeries

: surgery of nervous structures (as nerves, the brain, or the spinal cord)

neurosurgical

-ˈsər-ji-kəl 

adjective

neurosurgically

-ji-k(ə-)lē 

adverb