thymectomy: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
Very low frequency (technical medical term)Formal, Technical, Medical
Quick answer
What does “thymectomy” mean?
A surgical procedure to remove the thymus gland.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A surgical procedure to remove the thymus gland.
Primarily refers to the surgical removal of the thymus gland, most commonly performed as a treatment for myasthenia gravis, thymomas (tumors of the thymus), or other thymic conditions.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant differences in meaning or usage. Spelling is identical.
Connotations
Purely medical/surgical, with no cultural or linguistic variation between regions.
Frequency
Equally rare in both UK and US English, appearing only in medical contexts.
Grammar
How to Use “thymectomy” in a Sentence
The patient underwent a [thymectomy].The surgeon performed a [thymectomy] on the patient.A [thymectomy] was indicated for the thymoma.Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “thymectomy” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The surgical team will thymectomise the patient tomorrow. (rare/technical verb form)
American English
- The surgeon plans to thymectomize the patient. (rare/technical verb form)
adjective
British English
- The thymectomy procedure was scheduled.
American English
- The thymectomy procedure was scheduled.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Not used.
Academic
Used in medical research papers and clinical studies discussing surgical treatments.
Everyday
Almost never used outside of a patient's direct medical experience.
Technical
The standard term in surgery, oncology, and neurology for the removal of the thymus gland.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “thymectomy”
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “thymectomy”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “thymectomy”
- Misspelling as 'thymectamy' or 'thimechtomy'.
- Incorrect pronunciation stressing the first syllable (THY-me-ctomy) instead of the second (thy-MEC-tomy).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, it is considered major surgery, though techniques like VATS (video-assisted thoracic surgery) have made it less invasive.
The most common reasons are myasthenia gravis (an autoimmune disease), thymoma (a tumor of the thymus), and other thymic cancers or cysts.
Yes. The thymus is most active in childhood, helping develop the immune system. Adults can live normally without it, as other organs take over its function.
A total thymectomy removes the entire thymus gland, while a partial thymectomy removes only a portion, usually in cases where complete removal is too risky or unnecessary.
A surgical procedure to remove the thymus gland.
Thymectomy is usually formal, technical, medical in register.
Thymectomy: in British English it is pronounced /θaɪˈmɛktəmi/, and in American English it is pronounced /θaɪˈmɛktəmi/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: 'Thy-mectomy' sounds like 'Time-ectomy' – it's a surgery where they take out the 'thymus' and it's a 'time'-consuming procedure.
Conceptual Metaphor
SURGERY IS EXCISION (Removal as a curative act).
Practice
Quiz
What is a thymectomy?