amputation

German
Persian
Russian
Spanish

An amputation is when a part of your body is surgically removed. This can happen for many reasons, such as an injury or illness that makes it necessary to take off a damaged arm or leg.

When doctors talk about amputations, they're usually discussing operations that involve removing limbs due to disease, like diabetes, which causes nerve damage and gangrene. They might also be talking about traumatic injuries from accidents or explosions. In some cases, amputation is the only option left for someone in extreme pain or with limited mobility.

How common is "amputation"?

Word amputation is considered rare in modern English.
It appears most frequently in academic texts and less often in other writings.
Definitions

noun

  • surgical removal of all or part of a limb, etc.

1 / 2