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

In January 2026, a detainee's death at the facility was ruled a homicide by asphyxia. —Trevor Hughes, USA Today, 9 June 2026

Campos died after he was restrained by guards and an outside autopsy report ruled the death a homicide due to asphyxia. —Michael Biesecker, Fortune, 9 June 2026

Authorities later confirmed Kilman died of asphyxia by manual strangulation, reported NBC. —Corin Cesaric, PEOPLE, 2 June 2026

The body of 18-year-old Anna Kepner, a Florida high school cheerleader, was found hidden under a cabin bed aboard the Carnival Horizon; an autopsy later ruled her death mechanical asphyxia. —Los Angeles Times, 27 May 2026

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