anesthesia

noun

an·​es·​the·​sia ˌa-nəs-ˈthē-zhə 

1

: loss of sensation with or without loss of consciousness

The patient was given intravenous medication to induce anesthesia.

… doctors freeze the tumor with little coils filled with liquid nitrogen that are inserted in the prostate under anesthesia.

—Andy Grove

Awareness during anesthesia is a serious complication with potential long-term psychological consequences.

—Michael S. Avidan et al.

We often radiograph dogs when they are under anesthesia for spaying or neutering or other routine procedures.

—Bonnie Wilcox

see also general anesthesia, local anesthesia

2

: an agent that produces anesthesia : anesthetic

A capnometer measures the amount of carbon dioxide in exhaled air, thereby insuring that the tubes bringing oxygen and anesthesia to the patient are properly placed.

—Lisa Belkin

She was still groggy from her anesthesia, and she had an I.V. tube in her arm.

—The New Yorker

These substances [=endorphins], which have been identified in recent years through research on brain chemistry, act as a natural anesthesia that can lessen extreme pain.

—Norman Cousins

Examples of anesthesia in a Sentence

The patient was given an injection to induce anesthesia.

Recent Examples on the Web

In 2025, a TikTok video captured Pearl playing an electric keyboard to a child waking up from anesthesia at Shriners Children’s Southern California. —Hanna Wickes, Kansas City Star, 16 Apr. 2026

It has never been invoked against a president’s will, and has been used only to temporarily transfer power, such as when a president is undergoing a medical procedure requiring anesthesia. —Kirsten Matoy Carlson, The Conversation, 7 Apr. 2026

Urban had already given Writer an extra dose of anesthesia before the surgeon came into the room, an action witnesses said was unusual because medical staff normally wait to see how a patient reacts to anesthesia before administering more. —Katie Langford, Denver Post, 27 Mar. 2026

Last January, a Dane County judge heard from former employees who testified that dogs at the facility had their eye glands and vocal cords cut without anesthesia, were kept in small wire cages without outdoor access. —Quinn Clark, jsonline.com, 17 Mar. 2026

Word History

Etymology

New Latin, from Greek anaisthēsia insensibility, from a- + aisthēsis perception, from aisthanesthai to perceive — more at audible

First Known Use

1708, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing anesthesia

• general anesthesia
• local anesthesia

Rhymes for anesthesia

• anaesthesia
• analgesia
• dyskinesia
• paresthesia
• amnesia
• atresia
• babesia
• hyperalgesia
• hyperesthesia

Kids Definition

anesthesia

noun

an·​es·​the·​sia ˌan-əs-ˈthē-zhə 

: loss of bodily sensation with or without loss of consciousness

Medical Definition

anesthesia

noun

an·​es·​the·​sia

variants or chiefly British anaesthesia

ˌan-əs-ˈthē-zhə 

1

: loss of sensation with or without loss of consciousness that is artificially produced by the administration of one or more agents that block the passage of pain impulses along nerve pathways to the brain

… doctors freeze the tumor with little coils filled with liquid nitrogen that are inserted in the prostate under anesthesia.

—Andy Grove

Awareness during anesthesia is a serious complication with potential long-term psychological consequences.

—Michael S. Avidan et al.

see general anesthesia, local anesthesia

2

: loss of sensation especially to touch usually resulting from injury or disease

3

: an agent that produces anesthesia : anesthetic

During surgery, you will be given some form of anesthesia, which are medicines given to relieve pain and sensation during surgery.

—HopkinsMedicine.org

A capnometer measures the amount of carbon dioxide in exhaled air, thereby insuring that the tubes bringing oxygen and anesthesia to the patient are properly placed.

—Lisa Belkin