has undergone surgery

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "has undergone surgery" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing a person's medical history or condition, specifically indicating that they have had a surgical procedure. Example: "After the accident, she has undergone surgery to repair her broken leg."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Sport

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

BUHNER HAS SURGERY: Seattle Mariners outfielder Jay Buhner, out this season with a foot injury, has undergone surgery.

The New York Times - Sports

Whiting has undergone surgery to insert plates into the injury.

The Guardian - Sport

Pelé has undergone surgery on his back in São Paulo, according to reports.

The Guardian - Sport

It was the 4th time the king has undergone surgery since May 2010.

The Telegraph

He has undergone surgery and is in a critical condition in hospital.

The Guardian

Luciano Pavarotti, the superstar tenor, has undergone surgery for pancreatic cancer, his manager said yesterday.

The New York Times - Arts

Philadelphia is without Terrell Owens, who has undergone surgery on his right ankle.

The New York Times

Though he has undergone surgery and rehabilitation, he is often in pain.

The New York Times

Rob Ford, the former Toronto mayor, has undergone surgery to remove a cancerous tumour in his abdomen.

The Guardian

Thibaut Courtois has undergone surgery to his right knee and is expected to be out for up to three months.

The Guardian - Sport

"We have a president who is in his 80s and has undergone surgery, so of course people are curious.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When writing about someone's medical condition, use "has undergone surgery" to clearly and professionally indicate that they have had a surgical procedure. It's direct and avoids ambiguity.

Common error

Don't replace "has undergone surgery" with overly casual phrases like "went under the knife" in formal or professional contexts. Stick to neutral language to maintain a respectful tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "has undergone surgery" functions as a verb phrase indicating a completed medical procedure. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness, supporting its use in conveying factual information about someone's medical history.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Sport

20%

Science

5%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Encyclopedias

3%

Wiki

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "has undergone surgery" is a grammatically sound and widely used expression to convey that someone has had a surgical procedure. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's appropriate for various contexts, especially in news, sports, and formal discussions. While alternative phrases exist, "has undergone surgery" provides a clear and neutral way to communicate this information. Remember to avoid overly casual language and consider the context to maintain a professional and respectful tone. With its frequent appearance in authoritative sources like The Guardian and BBC, it's a reliable phrase for your writing needs.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

had an operation

Replaces "undergone surgery" with a more common synonym, "operation".

went through a surgical procedure

Substitutes "undergone surgery" with a more formal phrasing, emphasizing the medical nature of the event.

was operated on

Changes the sentence structure to a passive voice, using "operated on" in place of "undergone surgery".

received surgical intervention

Replaces "surgery" with "surgical intervention", making the phrase sound more clinical.

was treated surgically

Focuses on the treatment aspect, replacing "surgery" with "treated surgically".

had a surgical repair

Highlights the restorative aspect of the procedure, replacing "surgery" with "surgical repair".

experienced a surgical procedure

Uses "experienced" to describe the event of having surgery.

was a recipient of surgery

More formal and less common, emphasizes the receiving aspect of the surgery.

completed a surgical operation

Emphasizes the completion of the surgical event.

undertook surgical treatment

More formal alternative using "undertook" and "treatment".

FAQs

What does "has undergone surgery" mean?

The phrase "has undergone surgery" means that a person has had a surgical procedure performed on them by medical professionals. It implies a medical intervention to treat an illness, injury, or condition.

What are some alternative ways to say "has undergone surgery"?

You can use alternatives like "had an operation", "was operated on", or "received surgical intervention" depending on the context.

Is it appropriate to use "has undergone surgery" in formal writing?

Yes, "has undergone surgery" is appropriate for formal writing. It is a clear and professional way to indicate that someone has had a surgical procedure. More casual phrases should be avoided in such contexts.

What's the difference between "has undergone surgery" and "had surgery"?

While both phrases are similar, "has undergone surgery" is slightly more formal and emphasizes the process or experience of the surgery. "Had surgery" is more direct and commonly used in everyday conversation.