abortion
abortion Lexical Profile
abortion Game Scores & Validity
• noun
The deliberate termination of a human pregnancy, most often performed during the first twenty-eight weeks through medication or a surgical procedure.
"Access to safe medical care, including reproductive health services and abortion, remains a major topic in public policy."
The natural, premature expulsion of a fetus from the uterus before it is able to survive independently, especially in veterinary medicine or clinical contexts.
"The veterinarian tested the herd for bacterial infections that Commonly cause spontaneous abortion in cattle."
The premature halting or cancellation of an operation, mission, or planned undertaking before completion, or an undertaking that fails.
"A sudden drop in cabin pressure forced the abortion of the test flight."
The arrest of development of a biological organ, seed, or structure so that it remains stunted, imperfect, or fails to mature.
"Extended drought during the flowering stage frequently leads to seed abortion in corn crops."
Word Nuance & Usage
In everyday language, "abortion" almost exclusively refers to an induced termination of pregnancy, whereas "miscarriage" is used for a spontaneous loss; however, in clinical medical terminology, a miscarriage is often referred to as a "spontaneous abortion."
• Rhymes for abortion
• Nearby Words
Word Origin & Etymology
Borrowed in the mid-16th century from Latin abortio, a noun of action from the verb aboriri ("to miscarry, fail, or disappear"), formed from ab- ("away, amiss") and oriri ("to arise, appear, or be born").