surgery
SUR-juh-ree
Surgery (noun) means a medical operation that involves cutting into the body to treat an illness or injury. Example: “She underwent surgery to repair her knee.”
noun
1
A medical operation that involves cutting into the body to treat an illness or injury.
"She underwent surgery to repair her knee."
"The surgery lasted longer than expected."
"My grandfather needed surgery on his hip, but he recovered well afterwards."
2
UK: a doctor's office, or the scheduled hours when a doctor or politician sees people.
"The GP's surgery is open until six on weekdays."
"I rang the surgery at eight to book an appointment for my son."
"Our MP holds a surgery every other Friday at the town library."
How to use surgery
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishAn operation to treat the body, or (in British English) a doctor's or MP's office/appointment hours.
UK vs US
In UK English, "surgery" can also mean a doctor's office or a politician's local appointment hours — a sense American English doesn't use.
Common pairings
undergo surgery
have surgery
a surgery appointment
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Word forms
- Plural
- surgeries
Fill the gap
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She underwent _____ to repair her knee.
Etymology
From Old French surgerie, tracing back to Ancient Greek kheirourgia ("hand-work"), the same root as "surgeon".
Synonyms
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Rhymes for surgery
See all rhymes for surgery →Frequently asked questions
What does “surgery” mean?
The word “surgery” means a medical operation that involves cutting into the body to treat an illness or injury. In plain terms, an operation to treat the body, or (in British English) a doctor's or MP's office/appointment hours.
How do you pronounce “surgery”?
“Surgery” is pronounced SUR-juh-ree (/ˈsɝ.d͡ʒə.ɹi/ in IPA).
How do you use “surgery” in a sentence?
Here is “surgery” used in a sentence: “She underwent surgery to repair her knee.”
What part of speech is “surgery”?
“Surgery” is a noun.
Where does the word “surgery” come from?
The word “surgery” comes from Ancient Greek. From Old French surgerie, tracing back to Ancient Greek kheirourgia ("hand-work"), the same root as "surgeon".
Is “surgery” a common word?
“Surgery” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B1 level.
How many meanings does “surgery” have?
“Surgery” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a medical operation that involves cutting into the body to treat an illness or injury.
What is the difference between surgery and an operation?
The two overlap heavily. Surgery is the broader term — both the medical practice of treating the body by cutting into it and the procedure itself. An operation is one specific instance of that work, the particular procedure a patient undergoes. You have surgery as a field, and you have an operation on a given day.
What are the types of surgery?
Surgery is often classed by urgency and method. By urgency it can be elective (planned) or emergency (life-saving). By method it ranges from open surgery, using a large incision, to keyhole or laparoscopic surgery through tiny cuts. It is also grouped by purpose, such as cosmetic, reconstructive or transplant surgery.
Is surgery always necessary to treat an illness?
No. Surgery is usually considered when other treatments, such as medication, physiotherapy or lifestyle changes, are unlikely to work or have already failed. Because it carries risks and recovery time, doctors often treat it as a significant step rather than a first resort, weighing the benefits against the alternatives for each patient.
What is an example of surgery?
Common examples include an appendectomy, removing an inflamed appendix; a hip replacement, swapping a worn joint for an artificial one; and heart bypass surgery, rerouting blood around blocked arteries. Each involves cutting into the body to repair, remove or replace something in order to treat illness or injury.
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