circumcision: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1formal, medical, religious
Quick answer
What does “circumcision” mean?
The surgical procedure involving the removal of the foreskin from the penis.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
The surgical procedure involving the removal of the foreskin from the penis.
Can refer to the act or ceremony of cutting off the clitoral hood (female circumcision); by historical or religious extension, refers to a rite of initiation or inclusion, particularly in Judaism (the covenant of circumcision).
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant spelling or meaning differences. Usage contexts identical.
Connotations
Both varieties carry the same primary medical/religious connotations.
Frequency
Slightly higher frequency in American English due to higher rates of the neonatal procedure in the US.
Grammar
How to Use “circumcision” in a Sentence
N of N (circumcision of the infant)N for N (circumcision for medical reasons)N as N (circumcision as a rite)undergo Nperform N onVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “circumcision” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The mohel will circumcise the baby boy on the eighth day.
- The procedure to circumcise an adult is more complex.
American English
- The doctor will circumcise the newborn shortly after birth.
- Some cultures circumcise adolescents as a rite of passage.
adjective
British English
- The circumcision wound healed cleanly.
- Circumcision rates in the UK have declined.
American English
- The circumcision procedure is common in US hospitals.
- There is ongoing circumcision-related research.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare. Possibly in contexts of medical supply companies.
Academic
Common in medical, anthropological, religious studies, and public health literature.
Everyday
Limited to discussions of health, religion, or parenting choices.
Technical
Standard term in urology, paediatric medicine, and religious studies.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “circumcision”
Strong
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “circumcision”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “circumcision”
- Misspelling as 'circumsision' or 'circumcition'.
- Using as a verb (the verb is 'circumcise').
- Confusing male and female contexts without precise qualification.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No. While it has strong religious associations (particularly Judaism and Islam), it is also a standard medical term for a surgical procedure performed for various health or cultural reasons.
The verb is 'to circumcise'. The noun 'circumcision' refers to the event or the state resulting from that action.
No, the core meaning is identical. Differences lie mainly in the frequency of its use in general discourse due to varying cultural prevalence of the procedure.
While the phrase 'female circumcision' exists historically and anthropologically, it is now widely considered a misleading euphemism. The preferred terms in medical and human rights contexts are 'female genital mutilation (FGM)' or 'female genital cutting (FGC)'.
The surgical procedure involving the removal of the foreskin from the penis.
Circumcision is usually formal, medical, religious in register.
Circumcision: in British English it is pronounced /ˌsɜː.kəmˈsɪʒ.ən/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌsɝː.kəmˈsɪʒ.ən/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “the covenant of circumcision (religious)”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
CIRCUM (around) + CIS (cut) + ION (the act of) = the act of cutting around (the foreskin).
Conceptual Metaphor
CIRCUMCISION IS A SIGN (of covenant, cleanliness, identity). CIRCUMCISION IS A REMOVAL (of impurity, excess).
Practice
Quiz
What is the primary denotation of 'circumcision' in modern English?