noun

lobotomy

luh-BO-tuh-mee

Lobotomy (noun) means a now largely abandoned brain surgery that severs connections in the frontal lobe, once used to treat severe mental illness. Example: “The hospital performed lobotomies routinely in the 1950s before the practice fell out of favor.”

noun

A now largely abandoned brain surgery that severs connections in the frontal lobe, once used to treat severe mental illness.

"The hospital performed lobotomies routinely in the 1950s before the practice fell out of favor."

Figuratively, the removal or numbing of a capacity for thought or feeling.

"Watching reality TV for hours felt like a lobotomy."

How to use lobotomy

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishA discredited brain operation once used to treat mental illness; loosely, anything that seems to switch off critical thinking.

When to use it

The figurative sense ("it felt like a lobotomy") is informal and often used humorously or critically.

Word forms

lobotomies plural

Study it as flashcards or scroll it in Flow — saved to your collection.

Test yourself on “lobotomy” A quick quiz — meaning, synonyms & usage →

Fill the gap

Can you complete this real example?

Watching reality TV for hours felt like a _____.

Etymology

From lobe + -otomy, a suffix meaning "a cutting into", as in "tonsillotomy".

Synonyms

View more →

leukotomy leucotomy frontal lobotomy prefrontal lobotomy prefrontal leukotomy prefrontal leucotomy

Rhymes for lobotomy

roomy gloomy sodomy economy anatomy taxonomy autonomy dichotomy astronomy colostomy vasectomy phlebotomy

See all rhymes for lobotomy →

Frequently asked questions

What does “lobotomy” mean?

The word “lobotomy” means a now largely abandoned brain surgery that severs connections in the frontal lobe, once used to treat severe mental illness. In plain terms, a discredited brain operation once used to treat mental illness; loosely, anything that seems to switch off critical thinking.

How do you pronounce “lobotomy”?

“Lobotomy” is pronounced luh-BO-tuh-mee (/ləˈbɑtəmi/ in IPA).

How do you use “lobotomy” in a sentence?

Here is “lobotomy” used in a sentence: “Watching reality TV for hours felt like a lobotomy.”

What part of speech is “lobotomy”?

“Lobotomy” is a noun.

How many meanings does “lobotomy” have?

“Lobotomy” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a now largely abandoned brain surgery that severs connections in the frontal lobe, once used to treat severe mental illness.