artificial respiration

noun

variants or artificial ventilation
: the rhythmic forcing of air into and out of the lungs of a person whose breathing has stopped, is failing, or is inadequate compare mechanical ventilation

Example Sentences

Recent Examples on the Web Doctors concluded Archie was brain-stem dead soon after the accident and sought to end the long list of treatments that kept him alive, including artificial respiration, medication to regulate his bodily functions and round-the-clock nursing care. Danica Kirka, ajc, 6 Aug. 2022 The hospitals held an emergency meeting to identify any personnel or patients who had been in touch with the man, who was put on artificial respiration and has a severe case of the virus, Yazdanpanah said. Washington Post, 30 Jan. 2020 Soon, the five — who were between a day and a month old — were taken to the intensive care unit, where the three gravest cases were put on artificial respiration machines. Christopher F. Schuetze, BostonGlobe.com, 30 Jan. 2020 Blue-ring bites occur each year in Australia, but timely, vigorous artificial respiration usually prevents fatalities; only three have been confirmed during the past century, none involving aquariums. Eric Scigliano, National Geographic, 15 Oct. 2019 Peck's actions - including applying a tourniquet, placing an endotracheal tube, and performing artificial respirations and CPR - were directly responsible for saving Stacy's life. Leada Gore, AL.com, 29 Jan. 2018 Stacy was injured in an explosion at a hospital, and Peck kept him alive -- with 20 minutes of CPR and two hours of artificial respiration -- until Stacy could undergo emergency surgery. Greg Larose, NOLA.com, 30 Jan. 2018 Coffin recovered the body in about 15 minutes, but artificial respiration administered by a Lowell pulmotor squad failed to revive the lad, who was spending the day at the lake with his mother. Post-Tribune, 9 Oct. 2017 But Birbaumer says only 5 percent of ALS patients choose to go on artificial respiration. Nathan Hurst, Smithsonian, 6 Feb. 2017 See More

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'artificial respiration.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Word History

First Known Use

1778, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of artificial respiration was in 1778

Dictionary Entries Near artificial respiration

Cite this Entry

“Artificial respiration.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/artificial%20respiration. Accessed 23 Mar. 2023.

Kids Definition

artificial respiration

noun
: the rhythmic forcing of air into and out of the lungs of a person whose breathing has stopped

Medical Definition

artificial respiration

noun
variants or artificial ventilation
: the rhythmic forcing of air into and out of the lungs of a person whose breathing has stopped, is failing, or is inadequate : the process of restoring, maintaining, or initiating breathing by delivering air into and out of the lungs compare back pressure-arm lift method, mechanical ventilation, mouth-to-mouth

More from Merriam-Webster on artificial respiration

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!


Challenging Standardized Test Words

  • high school student holding a pencil leaning over a sat test
  • Despite the cacophony, the student tried to study.
Spell It

Hear a word and type it out. How many can you get right?

TAKE THE QUIZ
Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can with using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.

Can you make 12 words with 7 letters?

PLAY