gynecology

noun

gy·​ne·​col·​o·​gy ˌgī-nə-ˈkä-lə-jē How to pronounce gynecology (audio) ˌji- How to pronounce gynecology (audio)
: a branch of medicine that deals with the diseases and routine physical care of the reproductive system of women
gynecologic adjective

Examples of gynecology in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
What To Know Deveny grew up in the Akron area and joined Summa Health to lead the obstetrics and gynecology department in 1997. Lauren Giella, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 Oct. 2025 At the time, Fortier told CNN, it was widely known that residents and medical students – especially those specializing in obstetrics and gynecology – were often tapped to donate sperm. Chelsea Bailey, CNN Money, 25 Oct. 2025 And obstetrics and gynecology residents from Sutter Health will rotate through the WellSpace health center. Sacbee.com, 25 Sep. 2025 Preventive health arrives through screenings and education where people already gather—vision and diabetes checks, gynecology camps, Bal Health Melas for children—so the first touchpoint is familiar, not forbidding. Afdhel Aziz, Forbes.com, 15 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for gynecology

Word History

Etymology

probably borrowed from German Gynäkologie, borrowed from New Latin gynaecologia, from gynaeco- gyneco- + -logia -logy

Note: The Latin term appears in the titles of the German physician Martin Schurig's Gynaecologia historico-medica (Dresden, 1730) and in the German humanist and physician Johann Peter Lotichius's Gynaicologia, id est, de nobilitate et perfectione sexus feminei (Rinteln, 1630). Neither work, however, dealt with gynecology as a branch of medicine. Schurig's book dealt with female sexual behavior from a medical and legal standpoint, and Lotichius discussed the nature of women and challenged the ancients' belief in female inferiority.

First Known Use

1828, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of gynecology was in 1828

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Cite this Entry

“Gynecology.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/gynecology. Accessed 1 Nov. 2025.

Kids Definition

gynecology

noun
gy·​ne·​col·​o·​gy ˌgīn-i-ˈkäl-ə-jē How to pronounce gynecology (audio) ˌjin- How to pronounce gynecology (audio)
: a branch of medicine that is concerned with the diseases and routine medical care of the reproductive system of women

Medical Definition

gynecology

noun
gy·​ne·​col·​o·​gy
variants or chiefly British gynaecology
plural gynecologies
: a branch of medicine that deals with the diseases and routine physical care of the reproductive system of women
gynecologic adjective
or gynecological or chiefly British gynaecologic or gynaecological

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