vivisection

[ viv-uh-sek-shuhn ]

noun

1. the action of cutting into or dissecting a living body.
2. the practice of subjecting living animals to cutting operations, especially in order to advance physiological and pathological knowledge.

vivisection

/ ˌvɪvɪˈsɛkʃən /

noun

1. the act or practice of performing experiments on living animals, involving cutting into or dissecting the body

vivisection

/ vĭv′ĭ-sĕk′shən /

1. The practice of examining internal organs and tissues by cutting into or dissecting a living animal, especially for the purpose of scientific research.

vivisection

1. The cutting up or dissection of animals, including anesthetized live animals, in scientific research. Vivisection is also a general term for the use of animals as subjects in laboratory experiments, especially in the development of new medical techniques and drugs.

Notes

Vivisection, as well as the general use of animals in medical research, is a target of protest by animal rights advocates.

Derived Forms

• ˌviviˈsectional, adjective
• ˌviviˈsectionally, adverb

Other Words From

• vivi·section·al adjective
• vivi·section·al·ly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of vivisection¹

First recorded in 1700–10; vivi- + section

Word History and Origins

Origin of vivisection¹

C18: from vivi-, from Latin vīvus living + section , as in dissection

Example Sentences

Among the horrors he described were vivisections performed without anesthesia on those who had been deliberately administered germs; doctors wanted to see firsthand how the ensuing diseases infected the body.

From New York Times

Unit 731 is also believed to have performed vivisections and frozen prisoners to death in tests of endurance.

From Seattle Times

The title essay is arguably her masterpiece, a cool vivisection of a place and time when the center fell apart.

From Los Angeles Times

His criticism workshops, a curricula staple for budding critics and dramaturgs, were an experience in literary vivisection, as he homed in on every cliché and woolly idea in that week’s student essay.

From Los Angeles Times

But “Blonde” subjects Monroe to its own grisly vivisection.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• postmortem