asthma

noun

asth·​ma ˈaz-mə 

British ˈas-

: a chronic lung disorder that is marked by recurring episodes of airway obstruction (as from bronchospasm) manifested by labored breathing accompanied especially by wheezing and coughing and by a sense of constriction in the chest, and that is triggered by hyperreactivity to various stimuli (such as allergens or rapid change in air temperature)

asthmatic

az-ˈma-tik 

British as-

adjective or noun

asthmatically

az-ˈma-ti-k(ə-)lē 

British as-

adverb

Examples of asthma in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Since then, his family says Valizadeh, who has asthma, has suffered from coughing fits and been denied medications. —Haley Ott, CBS News, 6 Mar. 2026

People with allergic asthma may also need inhalers and should make sure their medications are up to date. —Evan Moore, Charlotte Observer, 5 Mar. 2026

The Indiana Department of Health reported last year that one in 12 children in Indiana has asthma — a medical condition exacerbated by outdoor air pollution. —Karl Schneider, IndyStar, 5 Mar. 2026

Water running off farmlands flows into the saline lake, and less water would shrink the lake faster, affecting wildlife and nearby communities where windblown dust brings high asthma rates and other health problems. —Ian James, Los Angeles Times, 4 Mar. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Middle English asma, borrowed from Medieval Latin asma, asthma, borrowed from Greek ásthma "panting, shortness of breath, asthma (as a medical condition)," of uncertain origin

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing asthma

• anti-asthma
• bronchial asthma

Rhymes for asthma

• plasma
• chiasma
• miasma
• histoplasma
• mycoplasma
• toxoplasma

Kids Definition

asthma

noun

asth·​ma ˈaz-mə 

: a condition that is marked by difficulty in breathing with wheezing, a feeling of tightness in the chest, and coughing

asthmatic

az-ˈmat-ik 

adjective or noun

asthmatically

-ˈmat-i-k(ə-)lē 

adverb

Medical Definition

asthma

noun

asth·​ma ˈaz-mə 

: a chronic lung disorder that is marked by recurring episodes of airway obstruction (as from bronchospasm) manifested by labored breathing accompanied especially by wheezing and coughing and by a sense of constriction in the chest, and that is triggered by hyperreactivity to various stimuli (as allergens or rapid change in air temperature)