Definition

A surgical procedure to remove all or part of a lung.

Example

The doctor recommended a pneumonectomy to treat the patient's severe lung disease.

Conversation

Have you ever heard of a pneumonectomy?

Yeah, it's when they remove part or all of a lung, right?

Exactly! I read about it in a medical article recently.

It sounds pretty serious, but I guess it can be necessary for some patients.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Root Explanation

Pneumonectomy → It is formed from "pneumon" (from Greek "pneumon", meaning lung) and "-ectomy" (from Greek "ektomē", meaning excision or removal). The word refers to the surgical removal of a lung.

Memory Tip

Think of 'pneumon' which relates to the lung, and '-ectomy' which means removal. This helps you remember that a pneumonectomy is the removal of a lung.

Visually Confused Words