Amputation

/ˌæmpjuˈteɪʃən/

nounIntermediate📊CommonMedical Procedure
1 meaning2 questions

Definitions

1

Surgical removal of a limb or other body part.

/ˌæmpjuˈteɪʃən/

nounnegativeIntermediate
Medical Procedure

The act of surgically removing a limb or part of a limb.

The amputation was successful, and the patient is recovering well.

💡 Simply: Cutting off a body part, usually a limb.

More Examples

2

The doctor explained the risks involved in the amputation procedure.

How It's Used

Medical

"The patient required an amputation due to severe gangrene."

From Late Latin *amputatio, from amputare "to cut off", from ad- "to" + putare "to prune, cut".

The word has been used in medical texts since the 16th century.

Memory tip

Think 'amp' for 'away' and 'utation' for 'cutting'.

Word Origin

Original meaning

"to cut off"

Base: amputate
leg amputationsurgical amputationtraumatic amputation

Common misspellings

amputaionamputionampatation

Usage

10%Spoken
90%Written