tonsillectomy
noun
ton·sil·lec·to·my ˌtän(t)-sə-ˈlek-tə-mē 
plural tonsillectomies
: the surgical removal of the tonsils
Did you know?
The tonsils are the areas of tissue that you can see in the mirror on both sides of your throat (not to be confused with the uvula, which hangs down in the middle). Tonsillectomy, the most common surgery performed on children in the U.S., is intended to relieve tonsillitis, or inflammation of the tonsils (usually by strep or staph bacteria). But the fact is, tonsillitis can often be successfully treated with antibiotics, which means that surgery, including the week or two of pain and discomfort that follows it, is generally unnecessary.
Example Sentences
The surgeon performed a tonsillectomy.
Recent Examples on the Web The tonsillectomy, once common, is generally an outpatient procedure performed under general anesthesia. 
Ana Vanessa Herrero, Washington Post, 23 June 2022 At twelve, despite a difficult tonsillectomy and her parents’ divorce, she was warmly housed, lovingly tended, doted on by grandparents and adored by older cousins. Joshua Ferris, The New Yorker, 30 May 2022 Shortly after, Alston died of complications from a tonsillectomy surgery during college. Dana Hunsinger Benbow, USA TODAY, 28 Feb. 2021 Another challenge struck when Martinez had to have a tonsillectomy and couldn’t stay in the shelter during her recovery. Gary Warth, San Diego Union-Tribune, 3 Aug. 2020 The city Board of Health moved to close schools, parks, swimming pools and dance halls — in some cases, only to people under 21 — prohibited the sale of unpasteurized milk and discouraged tonsillectomies at this time. Paula Allen, ExpressNews.com, 9 May 2020 Freestone said since then, more than 200 surgeries have been performed, including tonsillectomies, hernia repair and bronchoscopies. Elizabeth Marie Himchak, Pomerado News, 19 July 2019 So Glover urged an end to widespread tonsillectomies, which, given the rate of surgical infections at the time, spared English teenagers a lot of suffering. The Economist, 28 June 2018 The report, in JAMA Otolaryngology — Head and Neck Surgery, compared 60,667 Danish children under 9 who had tonsillectomies, adenoidectomies or both with 1.1 million who had not had the surgeries. Nicholas Bakalar, New York Times, 7 June 2018 See More
Ana Vanessa Herrero, Washington Post, 23 June 2022 At twelve, despite a difficult tonsillectomy and her parents’ divorce, she was warmly housed, lovingly tended, doted on by grandparents and adored by older cousins. Joshua Ferris, The New Yorker, 30 May 2022 Shortly after, Alston died of complications from a tonsillectomy surgery during college. Dana Hunsinger Benbow, USA TODAY, 28 Feb. 2021 Another challenge struck when Martinez had to have a tonsillectomy and couldn’t stay in the shelter during her recovery. Gary Warth, San Diego Union-Tribune, 3 Aug. 2020 The city Board of Health moved to close schools, parks, swimming pools and dance halls — in some cases, only to people under 21 — prohibited the sale of unpasteurized milk and discouraged tonsillectomies at this time. Paula Allen, ExpressNews.com, 9 May 2020 Freestone said since then, more than 200 surgeries have been performed, including tonsillectomies, hernia repair and bronchoscopies. Elizabeth Marie Himchak, Pomerado News, 19 July 2019 So Glover urged an end to widespread tonsillectomies, which, given the rate of surgical infections at the time, spared English teenagers a lot of suffering. The Economist, 28 June 2018 The report, in JAMA Otolaryngology — Head and Neck Surgery, compared 60,667 Danish children under 9 who had tonsillectomies, adenoidectomies or both with 1.1 million who had not had the surgeries. Nicholas Bakalar, New York Times, 7 June 2018 See More Word History
First Known Use
1899, in the meaning defined above
Medical Definition
tonsillectomy
noun
ton·sil·lec·to·my ˌtän(t)-sə-ˈlek-tə-mē
plural tonsillectomies
: surgical excision of the tonsils