abortion
noun
abor·tion ə-ˈbȯr-shən 
1
: the termination of a pregnancy after, accompanied by, resulting in, or closely followed by the death of the embryo or fetus: such as
a
: spontaneous expulsion of a human fetus during the first 12 weeks of gestation compare miscarriage
b
: induced expulsion of a human fetus
c
: expulsion of a fetus by a domestic animal often due to infection at any time before completion of pregnancy compare contagious abortion
2
a
: a misshapen thing or person : monstrosity
b
informal + sometimes offensive : something regarded as horrifically or disgustingly bad
3
: arrest of development (as of a part or process) resulting in imperfection
also : a result of such arrest
Synonyms
- abandonment
- calling
- calling off
- cancellation
- cancelation
- dropping
- recall
- recision
- repeal
- rescission
- revocation
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
a doctor who performs abortions She chose to have an abortion.
Word History
Etymology
borrowed from Latin abortiōn-, abortiō, from aborīrī "to miscarry, abort entry 1" + -tiōn-, tiō, suffix of action nouns
First Known Use
circa 1537, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Phrases Containing abortion
Medical Definition
abortion
noun
abor·tion ə-ˈbȯr-shən
1
: the termination of a pregnancy after, accompanied by, resulting in, or closely followed by the death of the embryo or fetus:
a
: spontaneous expulsion of a human fetus during the first 12 weeks of gestation compare miscarriage
b
: induced expulsion of a human fetus
c
: expulsion of a fetus of a domestic animal often due to infection at any time before completion of pregnancy see contagious abortion, trichomoniasis sense b, vibrionic abortion
2
: arrest of development of an organ so that it remains imperfect or is absorbed
3
: the arrest of a disease in its earliest stage
abortion of a cold
Legal Definition
abortion
noun
abor·tion ə-ˈbȯr-shən
1
: the termination of a pregnancy after, accompanied by, or closely followed by the death of the embryo or fetus
especially : the medical procedure of inducing expulsion of a human fetus to terminate a pregnancy
2
: the crime of procuring or performing an illegal abortion
a conspiracy to commit abortion
W. R. LaFave and A. W. Scott, Jr.
see also Roe v. Wade and Webster v. Reproductive Health Services W. R. LaFave and A. W. Scott, Jr.abortions
noun
as in abandonments
the act of putting an end to something planned or previously agreed to the abortion of the space mission caused the whole space program to be reexamined Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- abandonments
- cancellations
- cancelations
- repeals
- abolitions
- rescissions
- revocations
- recisions
- annulments
- droppings
- terminations
- callings
- neutralizations
- recalls
- endings
- nullifications
- invalidations
- relinquishments
- abolishments
- reversals
- rollbacks
- voidances
- surrenders
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- continuations
- beginnings
- engagements
- initiations
- undertakings
- commencements