phlebotomy

noun phle·bot·o·my \fli-ˈbä-tə-mē\

plural phle·bot·o·mies

Definition of PHLEBOTOMY

: the letting of blood for transfusion, diagnosis, or experiment, and especially formerly in the treatment of disease —called also venesection

— phle·bot·o·mist \-mist\ noun

See phlebotomy defined for kids

Origin of PHLEBOTOMY

Middle English fleobotomie, from Middle French flebothomie, from Late Latin phlebotomia, from Greek, from phleb- + -tomia -tomy

First Known Use: 14th century

Medical Dictionary

phlebotomy

noun phle·bot·o·my \fli-ˈbät-ə-mē\

plural phle·bot·o·mies

Medical Definition of PHLEBOTOMY

: the letting of blood for transfusion, apheresis, diagnostic testing, or experimental procedures and widely used in the past to treat many types of disease but now limited to the treatment of only a few specific conditions (as hemochromatosis and polycythemia vera)—called also venesection, venotomy