Meaning & use
circumcision
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Meanings
nouncountable or uncountable
The medical operation of removing the fold of skin at the end of the penis.
Grammar: Countable when referring to a specific procedure: a circumcision; uncountable when referring to the practice in general: circumcision is common in some countries.
Patterns
- perform a circumcision
- undergo circumcision
- circumcision is practiced
The doctor explained that circumcision is usually a quick procedure.
In some cultures, circumcision is performed shortly after birth.
He had a circumcision as an adult for medical reasons.
noununcountable
The act or practice of circumcising, especially as a religious rite.
Grammar: Used without an article when talking about the custom or ritual in general.
Patterns
- the practice of circumcision
- religious circumcision
- male circumcision
Circumcision is an important ritual in both Judaism and Islam.
The community gathered to celebrate the boy's circumcision.
Debates about religious circumcision often appear in the news.
Word forms
| plural | circumcisions |
|---|
Common combinations
- male circumcision
- Male circumcision rates vary widely around the world.
- female circumcision
- Female circumcision is illegal in many countries and is widely condemned.
- perform a circumcision
- The surgeon will perform the circumcision tomorrow morning.
- undergo circumcision
- Some men choose to undergo circumcision for health reasons.
- circumcision rate
- The circumcision rate has declined in recent decades.
Synonyms and how they differ
Word family
- circumcise verb
- To perform circumcision on someone.
- circumcised adjective
- Having had the foreskin removed.
- uncircumcised adjective
- Not having had the foreskin removed.
Commonly confused: circumcision or circumstance?
circumcision vs circumstance
A different word meaning a fact or condition that affects a situation. Circumcision is the medical or religious operation.
Practice
Which sentence uses 'circumcision' correctly?
Choose one answer.
'Circumcision' is a noun, so it fits after 'the' and as the subject. Options 1, 2, and 3 use it as a verb, but the verb form is 'circumcise' (e.g., 'She circumcised her son').
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “circumcision”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.