1. surgical removal of all or part of the colon
Usage: medical term; also called colonic resection

Examples

• The patient underwent a colectomy to remove the cancerous section of the colon.
• A partial colectomy was performed to treat the inflammatory bowel disease.
• The surgeon recommended a total colectomy due to the severity of the condition.
• Recovery from a colectomy typically takes several weeks.
• The colectomy procedure has become safer with advances in laparoscopic surgery.