mastectomy
noun
mas·tec·to·my
ma-ˈstek-tə-mē 
plural mastectomies
: surgical removal of all or part of the breast and sometimes associated lymph nodes and muscles
Did you know?
Breast cancer is the most common cancer among American women. Early cases can often be treated with drugs or with a small operation called a lumpectomy (because it removes a lump). Though a "simple mastectomy" is larger than a lumpectomy, it allows the breast to be reconstructed, using artificial implants or tissue from elsewhere on the body. But "radical mastectomy", which is required when the cancer is at an advanced stage, takes much of the chest muscle and makes reconstruction impossible.
Examples of mastectomy in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Morris’ treatment included five months of chemotherapy, a double mastectomy, an oophorectomy (where her ovaries were removed), and three weeks of radiation.
—
Korin Miller, Flow Space, 27 Oct. 2025
Shahi underwent a double mastectomy, deep flap reconstruction and an oophorectomy to remove her ovaries to cut off the hormones fueling the disease.
—Tereza Shkurtaj, PEOPLE, 25 Oct. 2025
The untitled crowning piece features a faceless woman with a flower crown and a single mastectomy, in a tribute to women affected by breast cancer.
—Raisa Habersham, Miami Herald, 17 Oct. 2025
This differs from the usual approach, where reconstruction is often delayed until after the mastectomy has healed or other treatments are finished -- sometimes by several months or even a year.
—Dr. Cyrus Mowdawalla, ABC News, 13 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for mastectomy
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.
Korin Miller, Flow Space, 27 Oct. 2025
Shahi underwent a double mastectomy, deep flap reconstruction and an oophorectomy to remove her ovaries to cut off the hormones fueling the disease.
—Tereza Shkurtaj, PEOPLE, 25 Oct. 2025
The untitled crowning piece features a faceless woman with a flower crown and a single mastectomy, in a tribute to women affected by breast cancer.
—Raisa Habersham, Miami Herald, 17 Oct. 2025
This differs from the usual approach, where reconstruction is often delayed until after the mastectomy has healed or other treatments are finished -- sometimes by several months or even a year.
—Dr. Cyrus Mowdawalla, ABC News, 13 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for mastectomy
Cite this Entry
“Mastectomy.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/mastectomy. Accessed 29 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationMedical Definition
mastectomy
noun
mas·tec·to·my
ma-ˈstek-tə-mē
plural mastectomies
: surgical removal of all or part of the breast and sometimes associated lymph nodes and muscles see modified radical mastectomy, partial mastectomy, radical mastectomy, simple mastectomy
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share