surgeon

noun

sur·​geon ˈsər-jən How to pronounce surgeon (audio)
plural surgeons
: a medical specialist who practices surgery : a physician trained and qualified to perform surgical procedures

Examples of surgeon in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
And then there’s what typically happens after the initial cut—a surgeon doing a breast augmentation will dissect through layers of tissue to carve out a space for the implant. Jolene Edgar, Allure, 15 Oct. 2025 Her Filipino parents emigrated from big-city Manila to this tiny farming community of 2,000 people in the 1970s, when her father, a surgeon, was recruited to work there. NPR, 15 Oct. 2025 During a hysterectomy, surgeons often perform procedures to remove ovaries and fallopian tubes. Khloe Quill, FOXNews.com, 15 Oct. 2025 Nelson, an accomplished heart surgeon who performed Utah's first open-heart surgery in 1955 and helped develop an artificial heart and lung apparatus, became a full-time church leader in 1984. Marc Ramirez, USA Today, 14 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for surgeon

Word History

Etymology

Middle English surgien, from Anglo-French, alteration of cirurgien, from cirurgerie surgery

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of surgeon was in the 14th century

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Surgeon.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/surgeon. Accessed 23 Oct. 2025.

Kids Definition

surgeon

noun
sur·​geon ˈsər-jən How to pronounce surgeon (audio)
: a physician who specializes in surgery

Medical Definition

surgeon

noun
sur·​geon ˈsər-jən How to pronounce surgeon (audio)
1
: a medical specialist who practices surgery : a physician trained and qualified to perform surgical procedures
2
: the senior medical officer of a military unit

More from Merriam-Webster on surgeon

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