Abortion

Definition

Abortion is a noun that refers to the deliberate termination of a human pregnancy, most often performed during the first 28 weeks. It also has broader uses to mean the failure or end of a process or event before its completion.

Parts of Speech

• Noun

Pronunciation

American English

• IPA Pronunciation: /əˈbɔrʃən/
• Respelling: uh-BOR-shuhn

British English

• IPA Pronunciation: /əˈbɔːʃən/
• Respelling: uh-BAW-shuhn

Etymology

The word "abortion" derives from the Latin term "abortio," meaning "miscarriage" or "premature birth." It is formed from "aboriri" (to perish, disappear) and the prefix "ab-" (from, away), indicating an ending or ceasing before full development. The term entered English in the 16th century.

Derivatives

• Abort (verb)
• Abortive (adjective)
• Aborted (adjective)
• Aborting (verb)
• Abortively (adverb)

Synonyms

• Termination
• Interruption
• Miscarriage

Antonyms

• Completion
• Continuance
• Fulfillment

Usage

The term "abortion" is primarily used in medical, social, and legal contexts to describe the intentional end of a pregnancy. It may also refer to the cessation of a process or effort before completion. Example: "The bill regarding abortion rights sparked significant debate," or "The project was an abortion after the funding was cut."

Related Terms

• Miscarriage: An unintentional loss of a pregnancy before the fetus can survive independently.
• Termination: The act of bringing something to an end.
• Fetus: A developing human from roughly eight weeks after conception until birth.

Detailed Definitions

Noun

• Intentional termination of pregnancy: The deliberate ending of a pregnancy before the fetus is viable.
  • Example: "The clinic specializes in abortion services."
• Premature end of a process: The cessation of an activity, project, or effort before its intended completion.
  • Example: "The mission ended in abortion due to technical issues."