cicatrize: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C2Formal, Technical/Medical
Quick answer
What does “cicatrize” mean?
(of a wound or injury) to heal by forming scar tissue.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
(of a wound or injury) to heal by forming scar tissue.
To heal or become healed, often implying a process of closure and the formation of a visible mark; figuratively, to recover or mend after a traumatic or damaging event, leaving a lasting impression.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Primarily spelling: British English prefers 'cicatrise' (with 's'), American English 'cicatrize' (with 'z').
Connotations
Equally technical and formal in both varieties.
Frequency
Very low frequency in both, but slightly more likely in historical or highly specialized medical texts.
Grammar
How to Use “cicatrize” in a Sentence
[wound] cicatrizes [adverb] (intransitive)[treatment] cicatrizes [wound] (transitive, rare)Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “cicatrize” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The surgical incision should cicatrise cleanly within two weeks.
- Deep burns can take months to cicatrise fully.
American English
- Proper care helps the laceration cicatrize with minimal scarring.
- The lesion failed to cicatrize and required further intervention.
adverb
British English
- The wound healed cicatrisingly, leaving a thick ridge.
- (Note: Extremely rare, mostly non-standard)
American English
- (Note: The adverbial form 'cicatrizingly' is virtually unattested in usage.)
adjective
British English
- The cicatrising properties of the new gel were remarkable.
- They studied the cicatrised tissue under a microscope.
American English
- Aloe vera is not known for its cicatrizing effects.
- The cicatrized area remained sensitive for years.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare; potentially metaphorical: 'The market's losses have yet to cicatrize.'
Academic
Used in medical, biological, and historical texts describing healing processes.
Everyday
Virtually never used; 'heal' or 'scar over' are standard.
Technical
Standard term in dermatology, surgery, and wound care literature.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “cicatrize”
- Incorrect: 'The doctor will cicatrize the infection.' (Treats wrong object)
- Incorrect: 'I cicatrized my broken arm.' (Used for bone healing)
- Spelling: Using 's' in AmE or 'z' in BrE.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is a highly formal and technical term, primarily used in medical contexts. In everyday speech, 'heal' or 'scar over' are used instead.
The related noun is 'cicatrix' (plural: cicatrices), meaning 'scar'. The more common noun for the process is 'cicatrization' (or cicatrisation).
Yes, though it remains a literary or elevated usage. It can describe emotional or societal recovery from trauma, emphasizing the lasting mark left by the event.
'Heal' is a broad term for becoming sound or healthy again. 'Cicatrize' specifically refers to the final stage of wound healing where scar tissue forms to close the defect, implying a visible, permanent change.
(of a wound or injury) to heal by forming scar tissue.
Cicatrize is usually formal, technical/medical in register.
Cicatrize: in British English it is pronounced /ˈsɪk.ə.traɪz/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈsɪk.ə.traɪz/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “The wounds of war cicatrize slowly.”
- “Time cicatrizes all wounds.”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of 'CICATRIZE' as 'SCAR-ize' – the process of making a scar (cicatrix).
Conceptual Metaphor
HEALING IS CLOSING/SEALING (with a permanent mark); PAST TRAUMA IS A WOUND THAT LEAVES A SCAR.
Practice
Quiz
In which context is 'cicatrize' most appropriately used?