abortion

noun

abor·​tion ə-ˈbȯr-shən 

1

: the termination of a pregnancy after, accompanied by, resulting in, or closely followed by the death of the embryo or fetus: such as

a

: spontaneous expulsion of a human fetus during the first 12 weeks of gestation compare miscarriage

b

: induced expulsion of a human fetus

c

: expulsion of a fetus by a domestic animal often due to infection at any time before completion of pregnancy compare contagious abortion

2

a

: a misshapen thing or person : monstrosity

b

informal + sometimes offensive : something regarded as horrifically or disgustingly bad

3

: arrest of development (as of a part or process) resulting in imperfection

also : a result of such arrest

Synonyms

• abandonment
• calling
• calling off
• cancellation
• cancelation
• dropping
• recall
• recision
• repeal
• rescission
• revocation

Examples of abortion in a Sentence

a doctor who performs abortions

She chose to have an abortion.

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from Latin abortiōn-, abortiō, from aborīrī "to miscarry, abort entry 1" + -tiōn-, tiō, suffix of action nouns

First Known Use

circa 1537, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing abortion

• abortion pill
• contagious abortion
• partial-birth abortion

Kids Definition

abortion

noun

abor·​tion ə-ˈbȯr-shən 

1

: the termination of a pregnancy whether natural or caused artificially that is accompanied by, results in, or follows the death of the fetus

2

: failure of a project or action to reach full development

also : a result of such failure

Medical Definition

abortion

noun

abor·​tion ə-ˈbȯr-shən 

1

: the termination of a pregnancy after, accompanied by, resulting in, or closely followed by the death of the embryo or fetus:

a

: spontaneous expulsion of a human fetus during the first 12 weeks of gestation compare miscarriage

b

: induced expulsion of a human fetus

c

: expulsion of a fetus of a domestic animal often due to infection at any time before completion of pregnancy see contagious abortion, trichomoniasis sense b, vibrionic abortion

2

: arrest of development of an organ so that it remains imperfect or is absorbed

3

: the arrest of a disease in its earliest stage

abortion of a cold

Legal Definition

abortion

noun

abor·​tion ə-ˈbȯr-shən 

1

: the termination of a pregnancy after, accompanied by, or closely followed by the death of the embryo or fetus

especially : the medical procedure of inducing expulsion of a human fetus to terminate a pregnancy

2

: the crime of procuring or performing an illegal abortion

a conspiracy to commit abortion

—W. R. LaFave and A. W. Scott, Jr.

see also Roe v. Wade and Webster v. Reproductive Health Services