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

The Harris County Institute of Forensic Science found the deaths of those 10 individuals was caused by compression asphyxia and were ruled an accident. —Abbey White, The Hollywood Reporter, 15 Nov. 2023

The families of the 10 people who died of asphyxia after the crowd rush all sued, although three have since settled. —Ethan Millman, Rolling Stone, 10 Nov. 2023

Those who were killed ranged in age from 9 to 27, and all 10 people died due to compression asphyxia, according to medical examiners. —Leah Willingham, USA TODAY, 30 July 2023

The cause of death in that case was positional asphyxia. —Leada Gore | [e-mail], al, 7 June 2023

Boston Globe / Boston Globe via Getty Images A medical examiner determined Cora and Dawson died of asphyxia, while Callan died of a complication of asphyxia, according to the local district attorney’s office. —Elizabeth Chuck, NBC News, 15 Sep. 2023

The cause of death was listed as asphyxia via drowning. —Chicago Tribune, 5 Sep. 2023

Motor vehicle accidents caused 23 of the deaths, while 12 were caused by asphyxia and nine were drownings. —My Ly, Arkansas Online, 14 Aug. 2023

To be sure, crowd surge — when the pressure of crowding can cause asphyxia — is a serious concern at large music festivals. —Kayla Samoy, Chicago Tribune, 4 Aug. 2023

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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