Bisect vs Dissect: How to Split the Difference [+ Sentence Examples]

These two verbs are related by the root -sect, which means “cut” or “divide” (as in separate) and also appears in English words such as sectarian (divisive) and sectional (divisible).

Bisect, predictably, means “divide in two, through the middle”:

A line that bisects something, should divide it into two equal halves.

The two halves should be approximately equal in size, or you cannot use bisect.

Dissect, in contrast, means “to cut apart,” and it is especially used to describe the process of cutting up a dead animal for research or education:

I am still shocked when I remember dissecting pigs during high school science class.

But dissect can also be used in any other way that makes sense. One popular metaphorical usage, is to mean “analyze”:

Let us dissect your argument and see if it really makes sense.

How to Use "Dissect" in a Sentence

Here are more examples of how to use Dissect in a sentence:

1. John dissected a frog in his biology class and nearly fainted.
2. The frog's organs were carefully examined during the dissection.
3. I spent hours dissecting the frog to find out what kind of cells it contained.
4. I had to dissect a mouse in high school; I really hope I never have to do that again.
5. After dissecting the sentence and reading it multiple times, I still don’t know what it means.
6. Before they could begin the dissection, they had to remove all of the surrounding tissue.
7. My mom is always dissecting my thoughts and emotions, helping me understand myself better than I ever could alone.
8. You should dissect this book and master the lessons it contains.
9. Sometimes I try to dissect my sister's annoying habits, but I can never make sense of them.

How to Use "Bisect" in a Sentence

Here are more examples of how to use Bisect in a sentence:

1. He took a knife and carefully bisected the apple so that they would have equal amounts to eat.
2. The lake is bisected by a narrow bridge.
3. He bisected the triangle, but didn’t know what to do after that and asked his geometry teacher for help.
4. The bisecting line divides the circle into two equal parts.
5. The bisected ax has a sharp blade on one side and a blunt blade on the other.
6. I took him on a tour down the main road, which neatly bisects the town.