incision

noun

in·​ci·​sion in-ˈsi-zhən 

1

a

: cut, gash

specifically : a wound made especially in surgery by incising the body

b

: a marginal notch (as in a leaf)

2

: an act of incising something

3

: the quality or state of being incisive

Synonyms

• gash
• laceration
• rent
• rip
• slash
• slit
• tear

Examples of incision in a Sentence

the surgeon made a thin incision with the scalpel

Recent Examples on the Web

Doc Odd does a penknife incision to the man’s neck (hate this) and brings him down to the sick bay to insert a tracheal tube and physically wrench his sternoclavicular joint back into place, which the nurses find very risky. —Rebecca Alter, Vulture, 31 Oct. 2024

Do not submerge the incision site in water (e.g., swimming, taking a bath). —Carisa Brewster, Verywell Health, 24 Oct. 2024

This minimally invasive technique involves removing the adenoma through small incisions. —Robert Burakoff, Verywell Health, 1 Nov. 2024

Finally, the combination of a small incision, made by potentially self-sharpening fangs, and an anticoagulant in their saliva allow these bats to feed on unsuspecting prey. —Sebastian Stockmaier, Discover Magazine, 31 Oct. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Kids Definition

incision

noun

in·​ci·​sion in-ˈsizh-ən 

1

: a cut or gash made in something

especially : a cut made into the body during surgery

removed the diseased appendix through a small incision

2

: an act of cutting into something

watched the surgeon's skillful incision

Medical Definition

incision

noun

in·​ci·​sion in-ˈsizh-ən 

1

: a cut or wound of body tissue made especially in surgery

2

: an act of incising something

the surgeon's incision of the tissues