exploratory surgery

noun

: surgery done to find and identify a problem
He underwent exploratory surgery.

Examples of exploratory surgery in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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.
Jim Nelson was having exploratory surgery for throat cancer in just a few days. Ruth Graham, BostonGlobe.com, 9 Sep. 2023 The next step was going to be exploratory surgery in his lower left leg that could have required months of rehabilitation. Sam Cohn, Baltimore Sun, 10 July 2024 Her husband underwent exploratory surgery and then was to be transferred to the York Street campus. Ed Stannard, Hartford Courant, 11 June 2024 Doctors then proceeded with exploratory surgery. Hanna Park, CNN Money, 27 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for exploratory surgery

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Exploratory surgery.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/exploratory%20surgery. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!