tracheotomy

noun

tra·​che·​ot·​o·​my ˌtrā-kē-ˈä-tə-mē How to pronounce tracheotomy (audio)
plural tracheotomies
: the surgical operation of cutting into the trachea especially through the skin

Examples of tracheotomy 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.
His heart stopped beating on the ice, necessitating a tracheotomy. — Don Norcross, San Diego Union-Tribune, 31 Mar. 2026 Surgeons performed a tracheotomy, and over the next year and a half, Marion lived in two long-term acute care hospitals. — Jordan Rau, NPR, 29 Nov. 2025 At one point, doctors performed a tracheotomy to avoid long-term damage to his vocal cords from prolonged intubation. — Miami Herald, 10 July 2025 In 2014, Kilmer was diagnosed with throat cancer and required two tracheotomies. — Jake Coyle, Chicago Tribune, 18 Mar. 2026 See All Example Sentences for tracheotomy

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1726, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of tracheotomy was circa 1726

Rhymes for tracheotomy

See All Rhymes for tracheotomy

Browse Nearby Words

tracheotomize
tracheotomy
Trachichthyidae
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Cite this Entry

“Tracheotomy.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/tracheotomy. Accessed 8 Jul. 2026.

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Medical Definition

tracheotomy

noun
tra·​che·​ot·​o·​my ˌtrā-kē-ˈät-ə-mē How to pronounce tracheotomy (audio)
plural tracheotomies
1
: the surgical operation of cutting into the trachea especially through the skin
2
: the opening created by a tracheotomy
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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