colpotomy: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
Very low (technical medical term)Technical, medical
Quick answer
What does “colpotomy” mean?
A surgical incision into the vagina.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A surgical incision into the vagina.
A surgical procedure involving cutting into the vaginal wall, often for diagnostic or therapeutic purposes, such as accessing pelvic organs, draining an abscess, or performing sterilisation.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Spelling and pronunciation are identical. Usage is restricted to identical medical contexts.
Connotations
No differential connotations; purely clinical in both varieties.
Frequency
Equally rare in both British and American medical English.
Grammar
How to Use “colpotomy” in a Sentence
The surgeon performed a [posterior] colpotomy.A colpotomy was performed to [drain the abscess].Vocabulary
Collocations
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Not used.
Academic
Used exclusively in medical literature, surgical textbooks, and gynaecology research.
Everyday
Virtually never used.
Technical
Core usage domain: Obstetrics, Gynaecology, General Surgery.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “colpotomy”
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “colpotomy”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “colpotomy”
- Misspelling as 'colpotmy' or 'colpotomie'. Confusing it with 'colposcopy' (visual examination).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is a specialised surgical approach used in specific gynaecological situations, often as an alternative to abdominal surgery.
No, because the incision is made internally within the vagina, so there is no external scar.
A colpotomy is performed through the vagina, while a laparotomy is performed through an incision in the abdominal wall.
Historically yes, via a procedure called 'laparoscopic sterilisation via colpotomy', but it is now largely superseded by less invasive methods.
A surgical incision into the vagina.
Colpotomy is usually technical, medical in register.
Colpotomy: in British English it is pronounced /kɒlˈpɒt.ə.mi/, and in American English it is pronounced /kɑːlˈpɑː.t̬ə.mi/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: 'COLPO' (from Greek 'kolpos' meaning womb/vagina) + 'TOMY' (cutting). A 'vagina-cutting' procedure.
Conceptual Metaphor
Not applicable; the term is a literal, technical compound.
Practice
Quiz
What is a colpotomy?