circumcise

verb

cir·​cum·​cise ˈsər-kəm-ˌsīz How to pronounce circumcise (audio)
circumcised; circumcising

transitive verb

: to cut off the foreskin of (a male) or the prepuce or clitoris and labia minora of (a female)
circumciser noun

Examples of circumcise in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web The boys will be circumcised and named about a week after they are discharged from the hospital, Rad says. Anna Lazarus Caplan, Peoplemag, 12 July 2023 While the Book of Genesis records God telling Abraham to circumcise his son (17:9-14), circumcision is once again mandated in the Book of Leviticus (12:3). Rabbi Avi Weiss, sun-sentinel.com, 28 Mar. 2022 Some communities routinely circumcise infant boys for religious or cultural reasons. al, 8 May 2021 Terry Brazier, 70, went into Leicester Royal Infirmary for a bladder procedure known as a cystoscopy but was mistaken for another patient by hospital staff and circumcised. Cnn.com Wire Service, The Mercury News, 5 Aug. 2019 In parts of Africa, the benefits of circumcising adolescents can outweigh the costs by about 10 to 1, according to the Copenhagen Consensus Centre (CCC), a think-tank. The Economist, 16 Nov. 2019 For comparison, about 71% of American males, 91% of Israeli males and 97% of Saudi Arabian males are circumcised, according to the National Institutes of Health. Omar Abdel-Baqui, Detroit Free Press, 14 Sep. 2019 After posting a photo of her kids with a pelican, Pink deleted the original post after a barrage of people criticized her for circumcising her son, who was pictured without a diaper. Charles Trepany, USA TODAY, 8 Sep. 2019 Terry Brazier, aged 70, went into Leicester Royal Infirmary for a bladder procedure known as a cystoscopy but was mistaken for another patient by hospital staff and circumcised. Rob Picheta, CNN, 5 Aug. 2019

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'circumcise.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Latin circumcisus, past participle of circumcidere, from circum- + caedere to cut

First Known Use

13th century, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of circumcise was in the 13th century

Dictionary Entries Near circumcise

Cite this Entry

“Circumcise.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/circumcise. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

circumcise

verb
cir·​cum·​cise ˈsər-kəm-ˌsīz How to pronounce circumcise (audio)
circumcised; circumcising
: to cut off the foreskin of

Medical Definition

circumcise

transitive verb
cir·​cum·​cise ˈsər-kəm-ˌsīz How to pronounce circumcise (audio)
circumcised; circumcising
1
: to cut off the foreskin of (a male) or the prepuce of (a female)
2
: to cut off all or part of the external genitalia and especially the clitoris and labia minora of (a female) see female genital mutilation
circumciser noun

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