colonoscopy

noun

co·​lo·​nos·​co·​py ˌkō-lə-ˈnä-skə-pē 

plural colonoscopies

: endoscopic examination of the colon

colonoscope

kō-ˈlä-nə-ˌskōp 

noun

Examples of colonoscopy in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

UnitedHealthcare added that TriHealth’s proposal would increase the costs of several procedures, including knee surgery, hip replacement surgery, colonoscopies, C-Sections, MRIs and emergency room visits. —Lauren Giella, MSNBC Newsweek, 25 Nov. 2025

What’s more, what starts out as one treatment, like a colonoscopy, can turn into a pricier procedure if your surgeon discovers something concerning and has to perform biopsies, McClanahan says. —Ryan Ermey, CNBC, 24 Nov. 2025

Occasionally, the beds can also be used before a patient has to go to the hospital, for example when a patient is preparing for a colonoscopy. —Ciara McCarthy, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 21 Nov. 2025

Is Cologuard a substitute for a colonoscopy? —Tom Daykin, jsonline.com, 20 Nov. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1926, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing colonoscopy

• virtual colonoscopy

Rhymes for colonoscopy

• laparoscopy
• arthroscopy
• colposcopy
• cystoscopy
• fluoroscopy
• spectroscopy

Medical Definition

colonoscopy

noun

co·​lo·​nos·​co·​py ˌkō-lə-ˈnäs-kə-pē  ˌkäl-ə- 

plural colonoscopies

: endoscopic examination of the colon

transabdominal colonoscopy with a sigmoidoscope via colotomy

colonoscopic

kō-ˌlän-ə-ˈskäp-ik 

adjective