gynecology

noun

gy·​ne·​col·​o·​gy ˌgī-nə-ˈkä-lə-jē How to pronounce gynecology (audio) ˌji- How to pronounce gynecology (audio)
: a branch of medicine that deals with the diseases and routine physical care of the reproductive system of women
gynecologic adjective

Examples of gynecology 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.
Rounding out the list of new ACIP members are Dr. Michael Ross, whom Kennedy described Wednesday as a professor of obstetrics and gynecology, and Dr. James Pagano, an emergency medicine physician. Erika Edwards, NBC news, 11 June 2025 Palestinian medical residents faced extra obstacles when competing for positions in such fields as obstetrics and gynecology, which was Qasem Hassan’s preference. Eyal Press, New Yorker, 9 June 2025 The outlet reports that the NHS's gynecology wait list had 324 waits of more than three years. Greta Bjornson, People.com, 3 June 2025 But vaginal infections are common, Stacy De-Lin, MD, a gynecology and family planning specialist and Associate Medical Director at Planned Parenthood Hudson Peconic, tells SELF. Cheyenne Buckingham, SELF, 13 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for gynecology

Word History

Etymology

probably borrowed from German Gynäkologie, borrowed from New Latin gynaecologia, from gynaeco- gyneco- + -logia -logy

Note: The Latin term appears in the titles of the German physician Martin Schurig's Gynaecologia historico-medica (Dresden, 1730) and in the German humanist and physician Johann Peter Lotichius's Gynaicologia, id est, de nobilitate et perfectione sexus feminei (Rinteln, 1630). Neither work, however, dealt with gynecology as a branch of medicine. Schurig's book dealt with female sexual behavior from a medical and legal standpoint, and Lotichius discussed the nature of women and challenged the ancients' belief in female inferiority.

First Known Use

1828, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of gynecology was in 1828

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Cite this Entry

“Gynecology.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/gynecology. Accessed 27 Jun. 2025.

Kids Definition

gynecology

noun
gy·​ne·​col·​o·​gy ˌgīn-i-ˈkäl-ə-jē How to pronounce gynecology (audio) ˌjin- How to pronounce gynecology (audio)
: a branch of medicine that is concerned with the diseases and routine medical care of the reproductive system of women

Medical Definition

gynecology

noun
gy·​ne·​col·​o·​gy
variants or chiefly British gynaecology
plural gynecologies
: a branch of medicine that deals with the diseases and routine physical care of the reproductive system of women
gynecologic adjective
or gynecological or chiefly British gynaecologic or gynaecological

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