prosthesis

noun

pros·​the·​sis präs-ˈthē-səs 

ˈpräs-thə-

plural prostheses präs-ˈthē-ˌsēz 

ˈpräs-thə-

: an artificial device to replace or augment a missing or impaired part of the body

upper and lower limb prostheses

a postmastectomy breast prosthesis

removable dental prostheses

Examples of prosthesis in a Sentence

She was fitted with a prosthesis to replace her missing leg.

Recent Examples on the Web

His family worked hand specialists at Johns Hopkins Medicine to look at surgery and different prosthesis options to give him some usage of his left hand. —David Begnaud, CBS News, 24 Feb. 2025

The hand on Remi's prosthesis was molded into a plastic fist. —David Begnaud, CBS News, 24 Feb. 2025

Cranial prostheses serve a similar purpose and should receive equal consideration. —Nathan Kattapuram, Baltimore Sun, 19 Mar. 2025

Fewer than half of people with limb loss have been prescribed a prosthesis, according to a report by the AHRQ. —Michelle Andrews | Kff Health News, ABC News, 6 Jan. 2025

Word History

Etymology

New Latin, from Greek, addition, from prostithenai to add to, from pros- in addition to + tithenai to put — more at pros-, do

First Known Use

circa 1900, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for prosthesis

• transgresses
• arthrodesis
• catechesis
• diuresis
• hysteresis
• dessus
• nessus

Kids Definition

prosthesis

noun

pros·​the·​sis präs-ˈthē-səs 

ˈpräs-thə-

plural prostheses -ˌsēz 

: an artificial device that replaces a missing part of the body

prosthetic

präs-ˈthet-ik

adjective

Medical Definition

prosthesis

noun

pros·​the·​sis präs-ˈthē-səs, ˈpräs-thə- 

plural prostheses -ˌsēz 

: an artificial device to replace or augment a missing or impaired part of the body

transtibial prostheses

a postmastectomy breast prosthesis

biological and mechanical heart valve prostheses