# surgery

/ˈsɝdʒɝi/ (US) · /sˈɜːdʒəɹi/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/surgery
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 1. medical procedure

noun · CEFR B1

a medical treatment where a doctor cuts open your body to repair or remove a part.

For teachers: the branch of medicine or a specific procedure involving manual or instrumental intervention to treat pathological conditions.

- He had to undergo minor heart surgery to fix a blocked artery.
- The patient was scheduled for emergency surgery after the imaging revealed significant internal trauma that required immediate intervention.

### 2. doctor's office

noun · CEFR B1 · British English

a place where you go to see a local doctor or dentist.

For teachers: a primary care facility or clinic where a general practitioner or dentist consults with patients.

- I need to drop by the surgery to pick up my prescription.
- The local surgery has extended its opening hours to accommodate patients who cannot attend appointments during the standard working day.

Usage: In British English, 'surgery' refers to the building; in American English, 'doctor's office' is preferred.

### 3. consultation hours

noun · CEFR B2 · British English

the specific time when a doctor or professional is available to see people.

For teachers: the designated period during which a medical professional or other practitioner is available for consultation.

- Morning surgery starts at eight, so you should arrive early to get a spot.
- The senior partner holds surgery every Tuesday afternoon, specifically for patients with chronic conditions requiring long-term management.

### 4. political meeting

noun · CEFR C1 · British English · Formal

a meeting where people can go to talk to their local politician about problems.

For teachers: a session where a Member of Parliament or local councillor meets with constituents to discuss grievances or local issues.

- The MP is holding a surgery in the town hall this Saturday.
- Constituents gathered at the library for the MP's weekly surgery, hoping to voice their concerns regarding the proposed housing development.

### 5. drastic changes

noun · CEFR C2 · Literary

big, difficult changes made to a plan or a business to fix it.

For teachers: figurative use referring to radical or transformative alterations made to a structure, organisation, or project.

- The company needed major surgery to survive the financial crisis.
- The editor performed radical surgery on the manuscript, cutting entire chapters to ensure the narrative maintained its momentum.

## Examples

- She needs surgery on her knee next week.
- The patient was admitted to the hospital early in the morning to prepare for heart surgery.
- Advancements in robotic technology have allowed surgeons to perform complex abdominal surgery with minimal incisions, significantly reducing the recovery time for most patients.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.