noun

mastectomy

mas-TEHK-tuh-mee

Mastectomy (noun) means Surgery to remove all or part of a breast, often to treat or prevent cancer. Example: “She had a mastectomy after doctors found an early-stage tumor.”

noun

Surgery to remove all or part of a breast, often to treat or prevent cancer.

"She had a mastectomy after doctors found an early-stage tumor."

How to use mastectomy

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishThe medical operation to remove breast tissue, usually as cancer treatment.

Common pairings

double mastectomy undergo a mastectomy mastectomy surgery

Word forms

mastectomies plural

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She had a _____ after doctors found an early-stage tumor.

Etymology

Built from Greek mast- ("breast") plus -ectomy ("surgical removal").

Origin: Greek

Rhymes for mastectomy

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

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Frequently asked questions

What does “mastectomy” mean?

The word “mastectomy” means surgery to remove all or part of a breast, often to treat or prevent cancer. In plain terms, the medical operation to remove breast tissue, usually as cancer treatment.

How do you pronounce “mastectomy”?

“Mastectomy” is pronounced mas-TEHK-tuh-mee (/ˌmæsˈtɛktəmi/ in IPA).

How do you use “mastectomy” in a sentence?

Here is “mastectomy” used in a sentence: “She had a mastectomy after doctors found an early-stage tumor.”

What part of speech is “mastectomy”?

“Mastectomy” is a noun.

Where does the word “mastectomy” come from?

The word “mastectomy” comes from Greek. Built from Greek mast- ("breast") plus -ectomy ("surgical removal").