avulsion

noun

avul·​sion ə-ˈvəl-shən 

: a forcible separation or detachment: such as

a

: a tearing away of a body part accidentally or surgically

b

: a sudden cutting off of land by flood, currents, or change in course of a body of water

especially : one separating land from one person's property and joining it to another's

Examples of avulsion in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

But starting point guard Sam Cassell suffered an avulsion fracture in his hip at the end of the conference semifinals. —Jace Frederick, Twin Cities, 30 Apr. 2026

Aaron reportedly sustained avulsion fractures to her L1 vertebra and a compression fracture of her T11 vertebrae. —Colson Thayer, PEOPLE, 22 Apr. 2026

Medically, this type of injury is likely classified as a subluxation (partial tooth dislodgement) or a dental avulsion (complete tooth displacement) combined with possible lacerations and contusions. —Richard Menger Md Mpa, Forbes.com, 24 Feb. 2026

Lange sustained an avulsion in his right lat during a minor-league game with the Tigers. —Kansas City Star, 11 Feb. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1622, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for avulsion

• compulsion
• convulsion
• emulsion
• expulsion
• impulsion
• propulsion
• repulsion
• revulsion
• microemulsion

Medical Definition

avulsion

noun

avul·​sion ə-ˈvəl-shən 

: a tearing away of a body part accidentally or surgically

avulsion of the fingernail

Legal Definition

avulsion

noun

avul·​sion ə-ˈvəl-shən 

: a sudden cutting off of land by flood or change in the course of a body of water

especially : one that separates a portion from one person's property and joins it to the property of another compare accretion

Etymology

Latin avulsio act of tearing away, from avellere to tear away, from a- off, away + vellere to pull, pluck