hemostat: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1/C2Technical/Medical
Quick answer
What does “hemostat” mean?
A surgical clamp used to compress a blood vessel to stop bleeding during surgery.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A surgical clamp used to compress a blood vessel to stop bleeding during surgery.
Any medical or laboratory clamp designed to control the flow of fluid, particularly blood, by compression.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The term is standard in both varieties, but its frequency is slightly higher in American medical contexts. The clipped form 'hemostat' is more common in the US; UK professionals may sometimes use the full 'haemostatic forceps'.
Connotations
None; purely technical.
Frequency
Used almost exclusively in medical and surgical contexts in both regions.
Grammar
How to Use “hemostat” in a Sentence
The surgeon applied/placed/used a hemostat on the vessel.A hemostat was used to clamp/occlude/control the bleed.Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “hemostat” in a Sentence
verb
American English
- The resident attempted to hemostat the small bleeder before moving on.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Not used.
Academic
Used in medical and biological research papers describing surgical methods.
Everyday
Not used.
Technical
The primary context. Standard term in surgical trays, medical device catalogues, and procedural documentation.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “hemostat”
- Using 'hemostat' to refer to non-medical clamps.
- Mispronouncing the first syllable as /heɪm/ or /hem/. It's /hiːm/.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is a strictly medical/surgical term. In hobbies like fly-tying, similar tools are called 'whip finishers' or 'bobbin holders', not hemostats.
All hemostats are a type of forceps, but not all forceps are hemostats. Hemostats have a locking ratchet mechanism designed specifically to clamp shut and stay closed on blood vessels.
The standard British spelling is 'haemostat', following the 'ae' digraph convention (like anaemia, haematology). However, the American spelling 'hemostat' is widely understood.
Rarely. In very informal medical jargon (primarily US), one might hear 'to hemostat a vessel', but the standard phrasing is 'to clamp with a hemostat' or 'to apply a hemostat'.
A surgical clamp used to compress a blood vessel to stop bleeding during surgery.
Hemostat is usually technical/medical in register.
Hemostat: in British English it is pronounced /ˈhiː.mə(ʊ).stæt/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈhiː.mə.stæt/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think 'HEMO' (blood) + 'STAT' (to make stand/stop). A hemostat makes blood stop.
Conceptual Metaphor
TOOL IS A HAND (a specialised, locking hand for gripping vessels).
Practice
Quiz
In which context would you most likely encounter the word 'hemostat'?