thyroidectomy: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1/C2Technical/Medical; Academic; Formal
Quick answer
What does “thyroidectomy” mean?
A surgical procedure to remove all or part of the thyroid gland.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A surgical procedure to remove all or part of the thyroid gland.
The term can refer specifically to the surgical removal of the thyroid gland, performed to treat conditions like thyroid cancer, hyperthyroidism, or large goitres. It is a precise technical term in endocrinology and surgical oncology.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant lexical differences. Spelling of related medical notes may follow UK/US conventions (e.g., tumour/tumor, oesophagus/esophagus).
Connotations
Identical. Purely a neutral, technical medical term in both varieties.
Frequency
Equal frequency in relevant medical contexts in both regions.
Grammar
How to Use “thyroidectomy” in a Sentence
to undergo/have a thyroidectomy (for [condition])to perform/carry out a thyroidectomy (on [patient])Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “thyroidectomy” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The surgeon will thyroidectomise the patient next week.
- The patient was thyroidectomised to manage the carcinoma.
American English
- The surgeon will thyroidectomize the patient next week.
- The patient was thyroidectomized to manage the carcinoma.
adjective
British English
- The thyroidectomised patient requires lifelong hormone replacement.
- Post-thyroidectomy care is essential.
American English
- The thyroidectomized patient requires lifelong hormone replacement.
- Post-thyroidectomy care is essential.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Not applicable.
Academic
Common in medical and biological research papers discussing surgical interventions, outcomes, or complications.
Everyday
Rare, except when a patient or family member discusses a specific medical history.
Technical
The primary context. Used in surgical notes, endocrinology, oncology, and clinical guidelines.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “thyroidectomy”
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “thyroidectomy”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “thyroidectomy”
- Misspelling as 'thyroidectamy' or 'thyroidechtomy'. Confusing it with 'thymectomy' (removal of the thymus).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is a specialised medical term. It is common within healthcare professions but rare in everyday conversation.
Yes, but you require daily lifelong hormone replacement medication (levothyroxine) to maintain normal metabolism.
A total thyroidectomy removes the entire gland. A partial (or hemithyroidectomy) removes only one lobe, potentially preserving some natural hormone function.
No, the word 'thyroidectomy' itself is spelled identically. However, related medical documentation may use British or American spellings (e.g., 'oesophageal' vs. 'esophageal' in surgical notes).
A surgical procedure to remove all or part of the thyroid gland.
Thyroidectomy is usually technical/medical; academic; formal in register.
Thyroidectomy: in British English it is pronounced /ˌθaɪ.rɔɪˈdek.tə.mi/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌθaɪ.rɔɪˈdek.tə.mi/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: THYROID + EC (as in 'cut out') + TOMY (cutting procedure). 'A cutting procedure to cut out the thyroid.'
Conceptual Metaphor
MEDICAL PROCEDURE IS REMOVAL (of a specific body part).
Practice
Quiz
What is the core meaning of 'thyroidectomy'?