Abortion
/əˈbɔːrʃən/
nounBeginnerCommonGeneral
Meaning
Question
Definitions
1
The process of ending a pregnancy by removing or expelling the fetus or embryo from the uterus, resulting in or caused by the death of the fetus.
/əˈbɔːrʃən/
nounneutralBeginner
General
The termination of a pregnancy
The abortion debate is highly controversial.
💡 Simply: Stopping a pregnancy before the baby is born.
More Examples
2
She had an abortion six months into her pregnancy.
How It's Used
Medical
"She chose to have a medical abortion."
Legal
"The debate surrounding abortion rights is ongoing."
From Latin *abortus*, past participle of *abortere* 'to stop, put an end to'.
Historically, abortion has been a topic of both religious and legal debate, with laws and societal attitudes varying greatly over time and across cultures.
Memory tip
Ab-out = A-bout ending the pregnancy.
Practice
Base: abort
aborsionabortsionaboriton
Usage
20%Spoken
80%Written