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infibulation

noun
in路​fib路​u路​la路​tion | \ (藢)in-藢fi-by蓹-藞l膩-sh蓹n How to pronounce infibulation (audio) \

Definition of infibulation

: extreme female genital mutilation involving complete excision of the clitoris, labia minora, and most of the labia majora followed by stitching to close up most of the vagina
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Examples of infibulation in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

 The cutting ranges from a clitoridectomy, partial to total removal of the clitoris, to infibulation, removal of all the external genitalia. — Kristina Arriaga, WSJ, "Cutting Young Girls Isn鈥檛 Religious Freedom," 24 Aug. 2017 Since 2014 though,the most severe form of infibulation has been illegal in the Puntland region - thanks to a Presidential decree. — Hawa Aden Mohamed For Cnn, CNN, "Breaking the Silence in the World Capital of Female Genital Mutilation," 5 July 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'infibulation.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

First Known Use of infibulation

1798, in the meaning defined above

History and Etymology for infibulation

Latin infibulare to fasten the labia majora or prepuce with stitches or a clasp, from in- + fibula clasp, fibula

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More Definitions for infibulation

infibulation

noun
in路​fib路​u路​la路​tion | \ (藢)in-藢fib-y蓹-藞l膩-sh蓹n How to pronounce infibulation (audio) \

Medical Definition of infibulation

: an act or practice of fastening by ring, clasp, or stitches the labia majora in girls and the foreskin in boys in order to prevent sexual intercourse especially : extreme female genital mutilation involving complete excision of the clitoris, labia minora, and most of the labia majora followed by stitching to close up most of the vagina

Other Words from infibulation

infibulate \ -​藞fib-​y蓹-​藢l膩t How to pronounce infibulate (audio) \ transitive verb infibulated; infibulating

More from Merriam-Webster on infibulation

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about infibulation

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