Surgeon and sturgeon are two words that are very close in spelling and pronunciation, but have very different meanings. We will examine the difference between the definitions of surgeon and sturgeon, where these words came from and some examples of their use in sentences.
A surgeon is a physician who has been trained to perform surgery, which is the process of treating a patient by cutting into the body to correct malformations or remove diseased parts. The word surgeon is derived from the Greek word kheirourgia, meaning work that is done by hand.
A sturgeon is a primitive fish covered in bony plates. Sturgeon is found in oceans, lakes and rivers, primarily in Eurasia. The roe of the sturgeon is considered a delicacy, roe of the wild sturgeon found in the Caspian and Black Sea is known as caviar. The word sturgeon is derived from the Old French word esturjon. The sturgeon should not be confused with the surgeonfish, which is a colorful tropical fish.
Examples
When she was preparing for her first NASA mission, surgeon and astronaut Rhea Seddon remembered there were some concerns about whether a woman’s body could adapt to space as well as a man’s. (The Spokesman-Review)
But now Professor Richard Berry, the former head of anatomy and influential surgeon, has had his name removed from campus. (The Sydney Morning Herald)
Sturgeon angling in the Bonneville and The Dalles pools of the Columbia River will close for retention beginning March 25, Washington and Oregon officials agreed March 14. (The Longview Daily News)
Kayak across the ocean to the Île Cocos, part of the Marine National Park, where snorkelling reveals powder blue surgeonfish, Moorish idols, parrotfish and the striking oriental sweetlips, with black and yellow stripes and dots that could grace a catwalk. (The Daily Mail)