English Reference

Word

hysterectomy

Phoneticshys·terec·to·my

US/ˌhɪstɝˈɛktəmi/

UK/hˌɪstəɹˈɛktəmi/

Definition

n. a medical operation to remove a woman's uterus. This is often done to treat serious health problems like heavy bleeding or pain.

n. the surgical removal of the uterus. Often performed to treat conditions such as uterine fibroids, endometriosis, or cancer.

Examples

“She decided to have a hysterectomy after years of pain.”

“The surgeon explained that a hysterectomy is a common procedure for women with severe uterine bleeding that does not respond to medication.”

“While a hysterectomy is generally considered a safe procedure, it carries the same risks as any major abdominal surgery, including infection and blood clots.”

Examples

simple

“She decided to have a hysterectomy after years of pain.”

contextual

“The surgeon explained that a hysterectomy is a common procedure for women with severe uterine bleeding that does not respond to medication.”

complex

“While a hysterectomy is generally considered a safe procedure, it carries the same risks as any major abdominal surgery, including infection and blood clots.”

Real-World Examples

“The word hysteria is derived from the Greek word for uterus, and for centuries, women's pain and emotions were pathologised as a fault of the uterus, treated in the form of a hysterectomy.”
BBC News · 16 Aug 2026
“Exercise has been proven to improve sexual function in women taking anti-depressants and those who have had hysterectomies .”
The Guardian · 16 Aug 2026
“Under current medical practice, estrogen-only therapy is prescribed only to people who have undergone a hysterectomy because of the risk of endometrial cancer.”
ScienceDaily · 14 Aug 2026

Etymology

From hyster- + -ectomy.

Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

Domain

Surgery

This entry

Level
C1 · Advanced
Frequency
Occasional
Updated

Scan code

englishreference.com/q/hysterectomy

English Reference