WordGarden.iosurgically
C1Pronunciation
UK
- /sˈɜːdʒɪkli/
US
- /ˈsɜrdʒɪkəli/
Meanings
Adverb
by means of surgery or in a surgery-related way
with extreme precision or selective care
Beyond the definition
"Surgically" usually means done by surgery or by a medical operation. A doctor might surgically remove a tumor, repair a joint, or place an implant. In this sense, the word points to direct physical treatment, not medicine, rest, or therapy alone.
The word is also often used in a figurative way. People may say a change was made "surgically" when it was done with great care and exact control, with only the needed part touched. In both uses, the idea is the same: a careful action, aimed at a specific place, with very little waste or error.
The adverb "surgically" most directly means by surgery or in a way that involves a medical operation. It is used when doctors physically remove, repair, insert, or alter something in the body. A tumor may be surgically removed, a broken bone may be surgically repaired, and a device may be surgically implanted. In this literal sense, the word points to hands-on medical treatment rather than drugs or other nonoperative care.
It often suggests a focused action on one exact problem area. That does not always mean a large incision or dramatic procedure; modern surgery can also be done through very small openings or with special tools. What matters is that the action is part of a surgical procedure. So "surgically" is more specific than "medically," because many things can be done medically, but only some are done by operation.
The word also has a strong figurative use in everyday English. People say something was done "surgically" when it was done with extreme precision, careful control, and minimal effect on anything else. An editor may cut a paragraph surgically, a company may surgically remove one weak feature from a product, or a team may make a surgically precise change to a design. In both the literal and figurative senses, the heart of the word is the same: an exact, targeted action carried out with care and skill.
Examples
- 1
Medical removal
The tumor was surgically removed before it could spread.
- 2
Injury repair
Her knee was surgically repaired after the injury.
- 3
Medical implant
A small device was surgically implanted under the skin to control her heartbeat.
- 4
Precise editing
The article was edited surgically, with only a few unnecessary lines removed.
More examplesFewer examples
- 5
Business cuts
The company cut costs surgically, dropping one product line instead of firing large numbers of staff.
See also
Similar
- operatively
- by surgery
Shades of meaning
- invasively
- laparoscopically
- microsurgically
Contrast
- nonsurgically
- conservatively
Used with (collocations)
- surgically removed
- surgically repaired
- surgically implanted
- surgically treated
Word family
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Forms and spellings
1 form open this card.
Main spelling
- surgicallyadverb