tracheotomy

noun

tra·​che·​ot·​o·​my ˌtrā-kē-ˈä-tə-mē How to pronounce tracheotomy (audio)
plural tracheotomies
: the surgical operation of cutting into the trachea especially through the skin

Examples of tracheotomy in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Doctors later gave her a tracheotomy and Tammy returned to rehab after a three-week hospital stay. Emma Kershaw, Peoplemag, 21 Mar. 2023 The child’s neck was injured due to the removal of the tracheotomy tube, investigators determined. Alexis Stevens, ajc, 21 Feb. 2023 Representative Ami Bera, Democrat of California, who is a physician, suggested the Biden administration mount a public advertising campaign along the lines of smoking cessation campaigns that once featured a dying man smoking through his tracheotomy. New York Times, 22 July 2021 Current students at the Red Balloon include one with severe autism and another with a tracheotomy. Jessica Winter, The New Yorker, 20 Jan. 2023 Her 5-year-old had a medical condition that required a tracheotomy. Alexis Stevens, ajc, 21 Feb. 2023 He was taken to the theatre, his struggles being controlled by 5ml of thiopentone intravenously, and a low tracheotomy was performed. Seriously Science, Discover Magazine, 19 Mar. 2014 In one, doctors were fighting to save the life of a 47-year-old armor crewman badly injured when his tank was hit Tuesday, his chest heaving as surgeons performed a tracheotomy in a bid to restore his breathing. Matthew Luxmoore, WSJ, 31 Aug. 2022 However, Riley Hospital won't perform a tracheotomy because Treasure is considered clinically dead. Erik Ortiz, NBC News, 11 Aug. 2022 See More

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'tracheotomy.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1726, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of tracheotomy was circa 1726

Dictionary Entries Near tracheotomy

Cite this Entry

“Tracheotomy.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/tracheotomy. Accessed 28 Sep. 2023.

Medical Definition

tracheotomy

noun
tra·​che·​ot·​o·​my ˌtrā-kē-ˈät-ə-mē How to pronounce tracheotomy (audio)
plural tracheotomies
1
: the surgical operation of cutting into the trachea especially through the skin
2
: the opening created by a tracheotomy
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