hysterectomy

noun

hys·​ter·​ec·​to·​my ˌhi-stə-ˈrek-tə-mē How to pronounce hysterectomy (audio)
plural hysterectomies
: surgical removal of the uterus
hysterectomized
ˌhi-stə-ˈrek-tə-ˌmīzd How to pronounce hysterectomy (audio)
adjective

Examples of hysterectomy in a Sentence

a surgeon who has performed many hysterectomies
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.
But for many women, a hysterectomy means the end of disruptive, painful symptoms. — Sandra Rose Salathe, Flow Space, 15 May 2026 Connie Lansdown, the hysterectomy patient, watches the storm yank a man from a reclining chair and drag him down the hall. — Kansas City Star, 22 May 2026 Before the murder, Parker, unable to bear children following a hysterectomy, staged her own pregnancy for months. — Erin Jensen, USA Today, 12 June 2026 Given the delays, doctors recommend a full hysterectomy, according to her medical records. — Christie Thompson, NPR, 17 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for hysterectomy

Word History

First Known Use

1872, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of hysterectomy was in 1872

Rhymes for hysterectomy

See All Rhymes for hysterectomy

Browse Nearby Words

hyster-
hysterectomy
hysteresis
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Hysterectomy.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/hysterectomy. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

Copy Citation

Medical Definition

hysterectomy

noun
hys·​ter·​ec·​to·​my ˌhis-tə-ˈrek-tə-mē How to pronounce hysterectomy (audio)
plural hysterectomies
: surgical removal of the uterus see ovariohysterectomy, panhysterectomy, radical hysterectomy, supracervical hysterectomy
hysterectomized adjective
also British hysterectomised
-tə-ˌmīzd How to pronounce hysterectomy (audio)

More from Merriam-Webster on hysterectomy

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about hysterectomy

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

Is that lie 'bald-faced' or 'bold-faced'?

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?

Commonly Misspelled Words

How to Use Em Dashes (—), En Dashes (–) , and Hyphens (-)
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Longest Long Words List

One-Word Oxymorons: Bittersweet, Spendthrift, and More

Ten Words Ending with a Silent ‘T’

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World
See More

Popular

See More

Is that lie 'bald-faced' or 'bold-faced'?

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Longest Long Words List
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
hangman letters and game
Hangman Lightning Round Figure out which word fits in the blanks.
See All