mutilation

Mutilation refers to the act of injuring or altering a body part to such an extent that its function or appearance is permanently damaged. The term is used in several different domains and is often associated with intentional harm, non-consensual injury, or disfiguring outcomes. The precise meaning can vary by context and language.

In medicine, procedures that remove or severely alter tissue, such as amputation, are typically described as surgical treatments rather than mutilation; outside clinical language, mutilation is more commonly used to denote harmful or disfiguring injuries inflicted without or against consent. Self-mutilation denotes intentional self-injury, usually without suicidal intent, and is considered a sign of distress requiring clinical attention.

Cultural and religious practices have included forms of permanent genital alteration in some communities. Female genital mutilation is a widely discussed example; it encompasses procedures that alter or injure female genital tissue for non-medical reasons and is condemned by international human rights law, though enforcement varies by country.

Mutilation also appears in discussions of animals and warfare. In veterinary settings, procedures such as tail docking or declawing are debated and regulated in many jurisdictions for welfare reasons. In armed conflict, mutilation can be a weapon or tactic and is prohibited by international humanitarian law as cruel and degrading treatment or war crimes.