Word
abortion
Phoneticsabor·tion
US/əˈbɔɹʃən/
UK/ɐbˈɔːʃən/
Definitions
01medical termination
B2 · Upper Intermediate Countable noun Medicine
n. a medical procedure or natural event that ends a pregnancy before the baby is born.
n. the expulsion or removal of an embryo or foetus from the uterus before it is able to survive on its own.
“The law regarding abortion varies significantly from one country to another.”
“The clinic provides comprehensive reproductive healthcare services, including counseling for patients considering a medical abortion.”
Usage
Often used with the verbs 'have', 'perform', or 'undergo'.
Synonyms
Antonyms
02failure of a project
C1 · Advanced Uncountable noun Formal
n. the act of stopping a plan or project before it is finished because it is failing.
n. the premature cessation or abandonment of a project, mission, or process.
“The abortion of the space mission was necessary due to a fuel leak.”
“The sudden abortion of the merger talks left investors concerned about the company's long-term stability.”
Usage
Commonly used in technical or military contexts regarding missions.
Synonyms
Antonyms
03biological arrest
C2 · Proficiency Uncountable noun Science Technical
n. when an organ or part of a plant stops growing before it is fully formed.
n. the arrest of development of an organ or organism, resulting in an imperfect or incomplete formation.
“The disease caused the abortion of the flower buds before they could bloom.”
“Genetic mutations can lead to the abortion of limb development during the embryonic stage of the organism.”
Antonyms
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “abortion” in context.
Verb
01. legalize abortion
“The government faced intense pressure to legalize abortion following the national referendum.”
verb + noun
02. perform an abortion
“The clinic was authorized to perform an abortion only under specific medical circumstances.”
verb + noun
03. undergo an abortion
“She decided to undergo an abortion after consulting with her family and doctor.”
verb + noun
Adjective
04. selective abortion
“The ethics of selective abortion based on genetic screening remain a subject of intense debate.”
adj + noun
05. spontaneous abortion
“A spontaneous abortion, commonly known as a miscarriage, can be a traumatic experience for parents.”
adj + noun
06. unsafe abortion
“Global health organizations work to reduce the number of deaths caused by unsafe abortion.”
adj + noun
Noun
07. abortion clinic
“Protesters gathered outside the abortion clinic to voice their opposition to the new legislation.”
noun + noun
08. right to abortion
“Activists argued that the right to abortion is a fundamental aspect of reproductive freedom.”
noun + prep + noun
Real-World Examples
“Flock cameras have been used by police to not only track former and current romantic partners, but in one case, even a woman who had had an abortion , external .” “These concerns have grown since the US supreme court’s reversal of its Roe v Wade decision guaranteeing the right to abortions.” Etymology
From the Latin abortiōnem, the accusative form of abortiō, which in turn derives from aborior, meaning to miscarry. This Latin introduction eventually displaced the native Old English ǣwyrp, which translated literally as a throwing out or a rejection. The modern term is the morphological equivalent of abort + -ion.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
VERB
NOUN
ADJECTIVE
ADVERB
Domains
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.C1 AdvancedIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.7.0–8.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 5.0–5.595–113TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.945–990
- Frequency
- Common
- Level
- C1 · AdvancedOxford
- Updated
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