asphyxia

noun

as·​phyx·​ia as-ˈfik-sē-ə 

əs-

1

: a lack of oxygen or excess of carbon dioxide in the body that results in unconsciousness and often death and is usually caused by interruption of breathing or inadequate oxygen supply

2

: the state of being stifled or suppressed

As a patient in hospital I felt both anguish and asphyxia—the anguish of being confronted with dissolution, and asphyxia because I could not be heard.

—Oliver Sacks

Examples of asphyxia in a Sentence

The cause of death was asphyxia.

Recent Examples on the Web

An autopsy was performed on Emmett Phillips, and the cause of death was determined to likely be positional asphyxia. —Fox19 Staff, Cincinnati Enquirer, 8 Oct. 2025

Adair’s cause of death A medical examiner ruled Adair’s cause of death to be homicide from mechanical asphyxia, or when a force or object prevents someone from breathing. —Kendrick Calfee, Kansas City Star, 3 Oct. 2025

The coroner listed her cause of death as asphyxia. —Sally Krutzig, Idaho Statesman, 3 Sep. 2025

The trench, which lacked support planks, caved in while the worker was inside, causing traumatic asphyxia, officials said. —Richard Ruelas, AZCentral.com, 21 Aug. 2025

Word History

Etymology

New Latin, from Greek, stopping of the pulse, from a- + sphyzein to throb

First Known Use

1778, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

asphyxia

noun

as·​phyx·​ia as-ˈfik-sē-ə 

: a lack of oxygen or excess of carbon dioxide in the body usually caused by interruption of breathing or insufficient oxygen supply and resulting in unconsciousness and often death

Medical Definition

asphyxia

noun

as·​phyx·​ia as-ˈfik-sē-ə, əs- 

: a lack of oxygen or excess of carbon dioxide in the body that is usually caused by interruption of breathing and that causes unconsciousness compare suffocation

asphyxial

-sē-əl 

adjective