apnea

noun

ap·​nea ˈap-nē-ə 

1

: transient cessation of respiration

especially : sleep apnea

2

: asphyxia sense 1

Examples of apnea in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

During her daughter’s NICU stay, Litz recalled her having apnea episodes, where the newborn’s breathing paused for 15 to 20 seconds. —Kayla Grant, PEOPLE, 16 Apr. 2026

Women also have more hypopneas (shallow breaths with less oxygen flow), whereas men tend toward apneas (complete pauses in breathing). —Katie Camero, SELF, 16 Apr. 2026

An analysis of the Wisconsin Sleep Cohort Study, which provides the most comprehensive data available, found that one in four Americans ages 30 to 70 had at least mild apnea, and one in 10 had a moderate-to-severe case. —Gilad Edelman, The Atlantic, 15 Mar. 2026

How to Combat Shallow Breathing Longterm Combatting shallow breathing from email apnea requires retraining the body, both March and Kamau said. —Helen Carefoot, Flow Space, 23 Feb. 2026

Word History

Etymology

New Latin, from a- + -pnea

First Known Use

circa 1719, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing apnea

• sleep apnea

Medical Definition

apnea

noun

ap·​nea

variants or chiefly British apnoea

ˈap-nē-ə  ap-ˈnē- 

1

: transient cessation of respiration whether normal (as in hibernating animals) or abnormal (as that caused by certain drugs) see sleep apnea

2

: asphyxia

apneic adjective

or chiefly British apnoeic

ap-ˈnē-ik