amputee: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1Medical, formal, journalistic; neutral in appropriate contexts.
Quick answer
What does “amputee” mean?
A person who has had a limb or limbs surgically removed.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A person who has had a limb or limbs surgically removed.
A person who has undergone amputation, typically due to injury, disease, or medical necessity; can also refer to someone who has lost a body part through trauma.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in meaning or usage. Spelling is identical.
Connotations
Neutral and descriptive in both varieties. Slightly more common in medical/rehabilitation contexts in the US.
Frequency
Comparable frequency; appears in similar contexts (medical reports, news articles, support group literature).
Grammar
How to Use “amputee” in a Sentence
[be/become] an amputee[support/help/treat] an amputee[amputee + verb e.g., learns, adapts, competes]Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “amputee” in a Sentence
adjective
British English
- The amputee support network is expanding.
- He is an amputee athlete.
American English
- The amputee support network is growing.
- She is an amputee marathoner.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare, except in healthcare/insurance industries discussing patient demographics or coverage.
Academic
Common in medical, psychological, and rehabilitation science literature.
Everyday
Used in news stories or personal narratives about injury, illness, or Paralympic sports.
Technical
Standard term in surgical, prosthetic, and physiotherapy contexts.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “amputee”
Strong
Neutral
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “amputee”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “amputee”
- Confusing 'amputee' (person) with 'amputation' (procedure).
- Using as an adjective (e.g., 'amputee soldier' is acceptable, but 'amputee limb' is not).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is a standard, neutral medical term. However, some prefer person-first language like 'person with an amputation'.
Yes, in compounds like 'amputee support group' or 'amputee athlete'. It is a noun used attributively.
'Amputee' refers to the person who has undergone the procedure. 'Amputation' refers to the surgical removal itself.
Yes, common collocations include 'double amputee', 'war amputee', 'amputee rehabilitation', and 'amputee support group'.
A person who has had a limb or limbs surgically removed.
Amputee is usually medical, formal, journalistic; neutral in appropriate contexts. in register.
Amputee: in British English it is pronounced /ˌæmpjʊˈtiː/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌæmpjəˈtiː/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
AMPUTEE: AMPU (like 'amp' from amputation) + TEE (sounds like 'tea') – imagine someone having tea after an amputation procedure.
Conceptual Metaphor
Often framed through metaphors of LOSS/ADAPTATION ("rebuilding life"), CHALLENGE/OVERCOMING ("defying limits"), or MEDICAL INTERVENTION ("surgical outcome").
Practice
Quiz
Which term is most appropriate and respectful in a modern medical context?