implant
C1Formal, Technical, Medical
Definition
Meaning
to insert or fix something firmly and deeply into a surrounding mass; to establish an idea, feeling, or object in a person, body, or situation.
1. (Medical/Surgical) A device or substance placed inside the body, such as a silicone breast implant or a cochlear implant. 2. (Dental) An artificial tooth root placed in the jaw. 3. (Figurative) An idea, belief, or memory deliberately introduced and fixed in the mind.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
As a verb, it implies a deliberate, often skilled, act of insertion. As a noun, it refers to the object that has been inserted. The word often carries connotations of permanence or intended long-term integration.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in core meaning. Both use it primarily in medical/dental contexts. The noun form might be slightly more frequent in AmE in cosmetic surgery contexts.
Connotations
Neutral to technical in both varieties. In popular culture (e.g., sci-fi), it can have dystopian connotations (tracking/mind control implants).
Frequency
Comparatively low-frequency in everyday conversation, but high-frequency in specific professional domains like medicine, dentistry, and biotechnology.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
implant something (in/into something/somebody)implant something (with something)have something implantedVocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Implant an idea in someone's mind (figurative)”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Rare. Could be used in biotech/pharma (e.g., 'The company develops neural implants.')
Academic
Common in medical, dental, biological, and psychological literature (e.g., 'The study examined osseointegration of the titanium implant.').
Everyday
Primarily in discussions of medical procedures, dentistry, or speculative tech (e.g., 'She's getting a dental implant next week.').
Technical
The primary register. Precise use in surgery, dentistry, and engineering (e.g., 'The implant's electrode array was calibrated.').
Examples
By Part of Speech
noun
British English
- The cochlear implant restored her hearing.
- There were concerns about the safety of the silicone implants.
American English
- She decided to get breast implants after the mastectomy.
- The dental implant feels just like a real tooth.
verb
British English
- The surgeon will implant the microchip just beneath the skin.
- They sought to implant democratic values in the new institution.
American English
- The dentist implanted the post into the jawbone.
- The cult leader implanted false memories in his followers.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- My grandmother has a hearing implant.
- The dentist said I might need an implant.
- Doctors can implant a small device to regulate the heartbeat.
- The propaganda was designed to implant fear in the population.
- The success of the procedure depends on the body's acceptance of the foreign implant.
- His early experiences had implanted a deep-seated distrust of authority.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
IMPLANT = IM + PLANT. Imagine a surgeon PLANTing a seed (a medical device) IM (inside) a patient's body, where it will grow into a fixed part of them.
Conceptual Metaphor
IDEAS ARE IMPLANTS (He implanted a suspicion in my mind); THE BODY IS SOIL/A RECEPTOR (The implant was grafted into the bone).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid confusing with 'transplant' (пересадка органа). 'Implant' is usually an artificial object inserted, not a biological organ moved.
- The Russian 'имплант' is a direct borrowing but is used almost exclusively as a noun. The verb 'имплантировать' is very formal/technical.
Common Mistakes
- Using 'implant' as a synonym for 'transplant'. (Incorrect: 'He had a kidney implant.' Correct: 'He had a kidney transplant.')
- Confusing stress: the stress is on the second syllable: imPLANT (both verb and noun).
Practice
Quiz
In which context is the word 'implant' LEAST likely to be used?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
In everyday language, it is more commonly used as a noun (e.g., 'get an implant'). In technical/medical writing, the verb form is also very frequent.
An 'implant' is typically an artificial device or substance inserted into the body (e.g., silicone, titanium). A 'transplant' involves moving organic tissue or an organ from one body (or part of a body) to another.
Yes, figuratively. You can 'implant an idea, a doubt, or a memory' in someone's mind, meaning to firmly establish it there.
In British English: /ɪmˈplɑːnt/ (im-PLAHNT). In American English: /ɪmˈplænt/ (im-PLANT). The stress is always on the second syllable.