brain death

noun

: final cessation of activity in the central nervous system especially as indicated by a flat electroencephalogram for a predetermined length of time

Examples of brain death in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web In a step toward testing the procedure in living people, a team at the University of Pennsylvania externally connected the liver to the body of a person who had suffered brain death. Sara Reardon, Scientific American, 18 Jan. 2024 In addition to circulatory death, there is brain death: when a person whose brain no longer functions at all can also be declared dead though their heart still beats. Joseph Goldstein, New York Times, 22 Nov. 2023 Strokes are caused by damaged or blocked blood vessels that starve the brain of oxygen, resulting in brain death, said Dr. Olajide Williams, a professor of neurology and vice dean of community health at the Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons. Claretta Bellamy, NBC News, 17 Nov. 2023 One woman gestated a fetus for 107 days after declaration of brain death. Dick Teresi, Discover Magazine, 19 Feb. 2012 Genetically engineered pig kidneys and hearts have also been tested in people who have suffered brain death when their family has consented to the experiment. Shi En Kim, Scientific American, 11 Oct. 2023 Brain damage is likely if a person in cardiac arrest goes four to six minutes without CPR, and brain death occurs after 10 minutes. Gina Kolata, New York Times, 25 July 2023 The first transplant took place in January 2022 and involved a recipient from Huntsville who suffered brain death after an accident. Amy Yurkanin | Ayurkanin@al.com, al, 17 Aug. 2023 In other cases, including when a donor dies of heart failure instead of brain death, the organs are removed at the donor’s hospital. Jon Healey, Los Angeles Times, 28 Apr. 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'brain death.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1921, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of brain death was in 1921

Dictionary Entries Near brain death

Cite this Entry

“Brain death.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/brain%20death. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

brain death

noun
: the final stopping of activity in the central nervous system as indicated by an electroencephalogram showing no brain waves for a set length of time that is often used as a criterion for human death
brain-dead
ˈbrān-ˌded
adjective

Medical Definition

brain death

noun
: final cessation of activity in the central nervous system especially as indicated by a flat electroencephalogram for a predetermined length of time
brain-dead adjective

Legal Definition

brain death

noun
ˈbrān-ˌdeth
: the final stopping of activity in the central nervous system especially as indicated by a flat electroencephalogram for a usually statutorily predetermined period of time
brain-dead adjective

More from Merriam-Webster on brain death

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!