therapeutic abortion: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1Formal, Medical, Legal
Quick answer
What does “therapeutic abortion” mean?
A medical procedure to terminate a pregnancy when it poses a significant risk to the pregnant person's physical or mental health.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A medical procedure to terminate a pregnancy when it poses a significant risk to the pregnant person's physical or mental health.
A legal term referring to the intentional termination of a pregnancy for medical reasons, distinct from elective abortion. In some jurisdictions, it specifically refers to termination to save the mother's life or prevent serious harm.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Both British and American English use the term in similar formal/medical contexts. However, in American legal and political discourse, the term is more frequently contrasted with 'elective abortion' in debates about restrictions.
Connotations
Clinical and legal. In British English, it may be more commonly replaced in general discourse with phrases like 'termination for medical reasons' (TFMR).
Frequency
Higher frequency in legal, medical, and bioethics texts than in everyday conversation in both varieties.
Grammar
How to Use “therapeutic abortion” in a Sentence
The doctors decided to [VERB: perform] a therapeutic abortion.The law permits therapeutic abortion [PREP: on] grounds of serious risk to health.She was advised [INF: to have] a therapeutic abortion.Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “therapeutic abortion” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The panel will decide whether to authorise the procedure.
American English
- The hospital's ethics committee voted to permit the procedure.
adverb
British English
- The pregnancy was terminated therapeutically, following the consultants' unanimous recommendation.
American English
- The procedure was performed therapeutically, based on clear fetal anomalies.
adjective
British English
- The therapeutic abortion clause in the Act was debated vigorously.
American English
- She sought a therapeutic abortion exception under the new state law.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Not applicable.
Academic
Used in medical ethics, law, public health, and sociology papers discussing abortion legislation and practice.
Everyday
Rare in casual conversation; used in informed discussions about healthcare law and personal medical situations.
Technical
Precise term in obstetrics, gynaecology, medical law, and clinical guidelines to denote abortion performed for health reasons.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “therapeutic abortion”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “therapeutic abortion”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “therapeutic abortion”
- Using 'therapeutic abortion' to refer to any abortion (incorrect; it's a specific subset).
- Confusing it with 'elective abortion'.
- Misspelling as 'theraputic abortion'.
- Using in informal contexts where 'termination for medical reasons' might be clearer.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No. 'Therapeutic abortion' refers specifically to termination for medical reasons (to protect the mother's physical/mental health). 'Abortion on demand' (or elective abortion) refers to termination chosen by the pregnant person without a requirement to provide a medical justification.
Yes, in many jurisdictions, a diagnosis of a severe fetal abnormality that is incompatible with life or would cause extreme suffering is considered a valid medical/psychological ground for a therapeutic abortion.
Typically not. It is a formal, clinical, or legal term. In personal or supportive contexts, people might use phrases like 'termination for medical reasons' or 'medically necessary abortion'.
Laws vary globally. Some countries permit abortion only on therapeutic grounds (to save the mother's life/health). Others allow it on broader grounds, including elective reasons. The specific criteria defining 'therapeutic' (e.g., what constitutes a risk to health) also differ.
A medical procedure to terminate a pregnancy when it poses a significant risk to the pregnant person's physical or mental health.
Therapeutic abortion is usually formal, medical, legal in register.
Therapeutic abortion: in British English it is pronounced /ˌθɛrəˈpjuːtɪk əˈbɔːʃn/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌθɛrəˈpjuːtɪk əˈbɔːrʃn/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “A matter of therapeutic necessity”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: 'Therapy' is for treating a medical condition. A 'therapeutic abortion' is an abortion performed as treatment for a serious health condition.
Conceptual Metaphor
MEDICAL PROCEDURE IS A TREATMENT.
Practice
Quiz
What primarily distinguishes a therapeutic abortion from an elective one?