Definition

Noun: 1. A deliberate termination of pregnancy: A medical procedure to intentionally end a pregnancy before the fetus can survive independently outside the uterus.

Usage

This term is used in medical, legal, and social contexts to describe the intentional ending of a pregnancy through medical or surgical means. It is a formal and clinical term. - It is typically modified by adjectives describing the method (e.g., surgical induced abortion, medication-induced abortion). - It distinguishes a purposeful procedure from a spontaneous abortion (miscarriage).

Examples

Advanced Usage

• Therapeutic induced abortion: A procedure performed when the pregnancy poses a risk to the pregnant person's physical or mental health, or in cases of severe fetal abnormalities.
  • The committee approved the therapeutic induced abortion due to the mother's critical heart condition.

Variants and Related Words

• Abortion (n.): A broader term that can refer to both induced abortion and spontaneous abortion (miscarriage). Context is crucial for meaning.
• Termination of pregnancy (n.): A common synonym, often used in medical and legal language.
• Elective abortion (n.): A term sometimes used to describe an induced abortion performed for non-medical reasons.

Synonyms

• Termination of pregnancy
• Pregnancy termination

Antonyms

• Live birth
• Carrying to term

Related Phrases

• To induce an abortion: The verbal phrase describing the action.
  • The doctor used medication to induce an abortion.
• Access to induced abortion: A phrase used in discussions about legal and healthcare availability.
  • Public debate often focuses on access to induced abortion.

Noun

1. a deliberate termination of pregnancy