1
: transient cessation of respiration
especially
: sleep apnea
2
Examples of apnea in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Severe complications include pneumonia and apnea, says Harris.
—
Caroline C. Boyle, USA Today, 20 Apr. 2025
The agency’s data reveal that the most common complications for children younger than one are apnea—pauses in breathing that can be life-threatening—and pneumonia.
—Chantelle Lee, Time, 15 Apr. 2025
Treatment Options Sleep apnea is a lifelong, progressive disease and patients need to be educated about all available treatment options besides CPAP to manage their condition effectively.
—Maria Sokolina, Forbes, 25 Feb. 2025
One, a potassium channel antagonist, is taken as a nasal spray and improved apneas in a small trial this year.
—Matt Fuchs, TIME, 21 Nov. 2024
See All Example Sentences for apnea
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Caroline C. Boyle, USA Today, 20 Apr. 2025
The agency’s data reveal that the most common complications for children younger than one are apnea—pauses in breathing that can be life-threatening—and pneumonia.
—Chantelle Lee, Time, 15 Apr. 2025
Treatment Options Sleep apnea is a lifelong, progressive disease and patients need to be educated about all available treatment options besides CPAP to manage their condition effectively.
—Maria Sokolina, Forbes, 25 Feb. 2025
One, a potassium channel antagonist, is taken as a nasal spray and improved apneas in a small trial this year.
—Matt Fuchs, TIME, 21 Nov. 2024
See All Example Sentences for apnea
Cite this Entry
“Apnea.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/apnea. Accessed 4 May. 2025.
Copy CitationMedical Definition
apnea
noun
ap·nea
1
: transient cessation of respiration whether normal (as in hibernating animals) or abnormal (as that caused by certain drugs) see sleep apnea
2
: asphyxia
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