English Reference

Word

vasectomy

Phoneticsva·sec·to·my

US/væˈsɛktəmi/

UK/væzˈɛktəmˌi/

Definition

n. a medical operation for men that stops them from having children. It works by cutting or blocking the tubes that carry sperm.

n. a surgical procedure for male sterilization that involves the ligation or excision of the vas deferens to prevent sperm from entering the seminal tract.

Examples

“He decided to have a vasectomy after having two children.”

“The doctor explained that a vasectomy is a permanent form of birth control and requires a short recovery period.”

“While a vasectomy is considered a highly effective and low-risk procedure, it is typically recommended only for men who are certain they do not wish to have any more children in the future.”

Examples

simple

“He decided to have a vasectomy after having two children.”

contextual

“The doctor explained that a vasectomy is a permanent form of birth control and requires a short recovery period.”

complex

“While a vasectomy is considered a highly effective and low-risk procedure, it is typically recommended only for men who are certain they do not wish to have any more children in the future.”

Etymology

From vas- (“vas deferens”) + -ectomy (“surgery involving the excision or removal of a body part”).

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

Domain

Surgery

This entry

Level
C1 · Advanced
Frequency
Occasional
Updated

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English Reference