Abortion Definition: Abortion Definition

Abortion

Definition: Abortion is the expulsion of an embryo or a fetus that is not normally able to live outside the womb. Spontaneous abortion or miscarriage may result from human imperfection or from an accident. Deliberately induced abortion simply to avoid the birth of an unwanted child is the willful taking of human life.

Abortion

Definition: Abortion is the expulsion of an embryo or a fetus that is not normally able to live outside the womb. Spontaneous abortion or miscarriage may result from human imperfection or from an accident. Deliberately induced abortion simply to avoid the birth of an unwanted child is the willful taking of human life.

a⋅bor⋅tion

  [uh-bawr-shuhn] Show IPA

–noun

1.	Also called voluntary abortion. the removal of an embryo or fetus from the uterus in order to end a pregnancy.

2.	any of various surgical methods for terminating a pregnancy, esp. during the first six months.

3.	Also called spontaneous abortion. miscarriage (def. 3).

4.	an immature and nonviable fetus.

5.	abortus (def. 2b).

6.	any malformed or monstrous person, thing, etc.

7.	Biology. the arrested development of an embryo or an organ at a more or less early stage.

8.	the stopping of an illness, infection, etc., at a very early stage.

9.	Informal. a. shambles; mess. b. anything that fails to develop, progress, or mature, as a design or project. Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.

DICTIONARY

abortion

Definition

a·bor·tion[ ə báwrsh'n ]

a·bor·tions

Plural

NOUN

1.

operation to end pregnancy: an operation or other intervention to end a pregnancy by removing an embryo or fetus from the womb

2.

medicine ( technical )
Same as miscarriage (sense 1)

3.

offensive term: an offensive term for something so badly done or made that it is a complete failure

4.

aerospace cancellation of mission: the ending of a flight or mission before it is completed

Abortion is the termination of a pregnancy by the removal or expulsion from the uterus of a fetus or embryo, resulting in or caused by its death. An abortion can occur spontaneously due to complications during pregnancy or can be induced, in humans and other species. In the context of human pregnancies, an abortion induced to preserve the health of the gravida (pregnant female) is termed a therapeutic abortion, while an abortion induced for any other reason is termed an elective abortion. The term abortion most commonly refers to the induced abortion of a human pregnancy, while spontaneous abortions are usually termed miscarriages.

Abortion has a long history and has been induced by various methods including herbal abortifacients, the use of sharpened tools, physical trauma and other traditional methods. Contemporary medicine utilizes medications and surgical procedures to induce abortion. The legality, prevalence, and cultural views on abortion vary substantially around the world. In many parts of the world there is prominent and divisive public controversy over the ethical and legal issues of abortion. Abortion and abortion-related issues feature prominently in the national politics in many nations, often involving the opposing "pro-life" and "pro-choice" worldwide social movements. Incidence of abortion has declined worldwide, as access to family planning education and contraceptive services has increased. Abortion incidence in the United States declined 8% from 1996 to 2003.

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