onychectomy /ˌɒnɪˈkɛktəmi/ noun2 •The surgical removal of a fingernail or toenail. •Surgically remove the distal phalange of each digit of the forefeet of a cat.A good example of the potential discrepancy between human and feline goals is onychectomy, or declawing. — 2015 formsonychectomies