lobotomy

noun

lo·​bot·​o·​my lō-ˈbä-tə-mē How to pronounce lobotomy (audio)
plural lobotomies
: surgical severance of nerve fibers connecting the frontal lobes to the thalamus that has been performed especially formerly chiefly to treat mental illness

Examples of lobotomy in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Turns out that the skull is a medical training device for spine and neurosurgeons, and can be used to instruct them on how to conduct a lobotomy. CBS News, 30 Sep. 2023 California Patt Morrison: ‘Paradise with a lobotomy’ or ‘just a big parking lot’? Patt Morrison, Los Angeles Times, 30 Aug. 2023 Morrison: ‘Paradise with a lobotomy’ or ‘just a big parking lot’? Patt Morrison, Los Angeles Times, 10 Aug. 2023 Neuroscientists like Walter Freeman, the biggest evangelist for the lobotomy in the United States, believed that psychosis was caused by endlessly circling thoughts and that cutting off the prefrontal cortex would break the circuit. Kristen Martin, Washington Post, 2 Aug. 2023 As recently as the mid-20th century, doctors performed lobotomies on people deemed mentally ill, severing the connection between the thalamus and the frontal lobe. Kristen Martin, Washington Post, 2 Aug. 2023 Arthur Sackler, this psychiatrist from New York who specialized in lobotomies, started to realize that the future was in pills — specifically in advertising pills. Jackie Strause, The Hollywood Reporter, 11 July 2023 See more On April 28, scientists actually discovered the world’s first ever non-invasive lobotomy. Kate Lindsay, Vulture, 1 July 2023 After undergoing a disastrous lobotomy in 1941, the once vivacious beauty was unable to form a complete sentence. Liz McNeil, Peoplemag, 25 Jan. 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'lobotomy.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

lobe + -o- + -tomy

First Known Use

1936, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of lobotomy was in 1936

Dictionary Entries Near lobotomy

Cite this Entry

“Lobotomy.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/lobotomy. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

Medical Definition

lobotomy

noun
lo·​bot·​o·​my lō-ˈbät-ə-mē How to pronounce lobotomy (audio)
plural lobotomies
: surgical severance of nerve fibers connecting the frontal lobes to the thalamus that has been performed especially formerly chiefly to treat mental illness

called also leukotomy

compare lobectomy

More from Merriam-Webster on lobotomy

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