circumcision

[ sur-kuhm-sizh-uhn ]

noun

1. an act, instance, or the rite of circumcising.
2. clitoridectomy.
3. spiritual purification.
4. (initial capital letter) a church festival in honor of the circumcision of Jesus, observed on January 1.

circumcision

/ ˌsɜːkəmˈsɪʒən /

noun

1. 1. surgical removal of the foreskin of males
   2. surgical incision into the skin covering the clitoris in females
   3. removal of the clitoris
2. the act of circumcision, performed as a religious rite by Jews and Muslims
3. RC Church the festival celebrated on Jan 1 in commemoration of the circumcision of Jesus

circumcision

1. The surgical removal of the skin that covers the tip of the penis , usually performed soon after birth. Although circumcision is common in the United States, the procedure is no longer widely recommended as a medical necessity by physicians.

Notes

Circumcision is performed as a religious ceremony by Jews (see also Jews ) and Muslims .

Word History and Origins

Origin of circumcision¹

First recorded in 1125–75; Middle English, from Late Latin circumcīsiōn-, stem of circumcīsiō, equivalent to circumcise + -ion

Example Sentences

“Just a few of them, especially when they are uncircumcised, developed a serious deformity, but that was not only related to the lack of circumcision but also to the skills of the injector.”

From Salon

Doctors for one patient described the stitching as “the equivalent of a female circumcision,” the lawsuit said.

From Los Angeles Times

Forty-eight boys in Zambia have been rescued from a male circumcision camp, after desperate complaints by some parents that their children had been abducted.

From BBC

Somalia tops the list of countries where the practice, also known as female circumcision, is prevalent, with 99% of the female population between the ages of 15 and 49 having been circumcised.

From Seattle Times

Noor said in a police interview she believed the victim would be pierced or injected in a procedure known as "Gudniin" – an Arabic word meaning circumcision, the CPS said.

From Reuters