Abortion is the termination of a pregnancy by removal or expulsion of an embryo or fetus. An abortion that occurs without intervention is known as a miscarriage or "spontaneous abortion"; these occur in approximately 30% to 40% of all pregnancies. When deliberate steps are taken to end a pregnancy, it is called an induced abortion, or less frequently "induced miscarriage". The unmodified word abortion generally refers to an induced abortion. The most common reason women give for having an abortion is for birth-timing and limiting family size. Other reasons reported include maternal health, an inability to afford a child, domestic violence, lack of support, feeling they are too young, wishing to complete education or advance a career, and not being able or willing to raise a child conceived as a result of rape or incest.

गर्भपात परिपक्वता अवधि अथवा व्यवहार्यता से पूर्व गर्भ के समापन की अवस्था है जिसमें गर्भाशय से भ्रूण स्वत: निष्काषित हो जाता है या कर दिया जाता है। इसके परिणामस्वरूप गर्भावस्था की समाप्ति हो जाती है। किसी कारण भ्रूण के स्वतः समाप्त हो जाने को गर्भ विफलता कहा जाता है। सामान्यतः गर्भपात मानव गर्भ को जबरन समाप्त किये जाने को इंगित करता है।