Abortion refers to the termination of a pregnancy by medical or surgical means. It is a sensitive, highly charged term used in medical, legal, ethical, and social contexts. The word denotes ending a pregnancy before gestation reaches viability, with implications for individuals, families, and policy discussions.
US & AU accents are Premium
Unlock all accent variations
"The clinic provides counseling and options for patients seeking an abortion."
"Advocates debated the legal status of abortion in the state legislature."
"She spoke publicly about her experience with abortion to raise awareness."
"Researchers study abortion access, safety, and outcomes across different populations."
Abortion comes from the Latin abortio, from amittere ‘to miscarry, to abort,’ formed from a- (away from) + biorte/ bort- (throw away, perish) in late Latin. The term evolved in English during the 14th–15th centuries, originally tied to miscarriage and the cessation of a pregnancy. In the 17th–18th centuries, abortion broadened to include deliberate termination, with legal and moral debates shaping phrasing. The modern sense of elective termination emerged more clearly in the 19th and 20th centuries as medical science advanced and reproductive rights became central to public policy. The word has retained clinical usage while carrying strong cultural and ethical connotations, making it a focal point in policy, medical practice, and advocacy discourse.
💡 Etymology tip: Understanding word origins can help you remember pronunciation patterns and recognize related words in the same language family.
Help others use "abortion" correctly by contributing grammar tips, common mistakes, and context guidance.
💡 These words have similar meanings to "abortion" and can often be used interchangeably.
🔄 These words have opposite meanings to "abortion" and show contrast in usage.
📚 Vocabulary tip: Learning synonyms and antonyms helps you understand nuanced differences in meaning and improves your word choice in speaking and writing.
Words that rhyme with "abortion"
-ion sounds
Practice with these rhyming pairs to improve your pronunciation consistency:
🎵 Rhyme tip: Practicing with rhyming words helps you master similar sound patterns and improves your overall pronunciation accuracy.
Pronounce as ə-BAWR-shən in US and UK accents, with primary stress on the second syllable: /əˈbɔːr.ʃən/ (US), /əˈbɔː.tɪən/ is older British variants but less common; a common UK form is /əˈbɔː.ʃən/. The first syllable is a schwa, the second features an open back rounded vowel like 'baw', and the final syllable is a weak /ən/ or /n/ cluster. Keep the /r/ pronounced in rhotic varieties; in non-rhotic British speech, the /r/ is less pronounced or silent before a vowel. Audio references: consult Cambridge or Oxford dictionaries for pronunciation audio.”,
Common errors include misplacing stress (saying a-BOR-tion with incorrect stress) and mispronouncing /ɔː/ as /ɒ/ or /ɑː/. Some learners drop the /r/ in non-rhotic accents or turn /t/ into a flap, producing a-bor-SHən. Correction tips: place main stress on the second syllable and maintain a clear /r/ in rhotic accents. Practice the second syllable with /ɔː/ or /ɔːr/ depending on your variant, then finish with a crisp /ʃən/ or /ʃən/ sequence.”,
In US accents, you hear /əˈbɔːr.ʃən/ with a pronounced rhotic /r/ and clear /ɔː/ in the stressed syllable. UK RP tends toward /əˈbɔː.ʃən/ where /r/ is not pronounced before a following vowel, and some speakers may reduce the /ɔː/ to a more centralized vowel. Australian English typically /əˈbɔː.ʃən/ with strong fit in /ɔː/ but similar rhotic tendencies to US in careful speech. The main differences come from rhoticity, vowel length, and linking patterns.”,
The difficulty arises from the combination of a stressed closed syllable with /ɔː/ vowel that can vary regionally, plus the final /ʃən/ sequence that includes a postalveolar fricative followed by a schwa or syllabic n. For non-native speakers, producing the mid-back rounded vowel and the crisp /ʃ/ can be challenging, as well as coordinating the syllable boundary between /bɔːr/ and /ʃən/ in rapid speech. Working on the transition from the /r/ into /ʃ/ helps maintain a natural flow.”,
The unique challenges include the schwa- or reduced vowel in the first syllable, a strong stressed /ɔː/ vowel in the second syllable, and the /r/ followed by /ʃ/ in the onset of the final syllable. This triad of sounds—stressed back rounded vowel, rhotic or non-rhotic /r/, and the /ʃ/ + /ən/ sequence—requires careful timing and mouth shaping. Visualizing the tongue position as you move from /ɔː/ to /r/ to /ʃ/ can help you hit each segment cleanly.
🗣️ Voice search tip: These questions are optimized for voice search. Try asking your voice assistant any of these questions about "abortion"!
No related words found
