asphyxiation

noun

as·phyx·i·ation | \ as-ˌfik-sē-ˈā-shən

, əs-\

Definition of asphyxiation

: deprivation of oxygen that can result in unconsciousness and often death : an act of asphyxiating a person or animal or a state of asphyxia : suffocation The autopsy showed that the cause of death was asphyxiation. Pliny the Elder did not die of falling pumice, but of asphyxiation, as he breathed noxious fumes from the eruption.— Sidney Perkowitz Asphyxiation at birth caused permanent impairment of his nerve-signaling system …— Ann Geracimos In rats, mice, and rabbits ciguatera poison causes death by asphyxiation.— Kwang-ming Li

Examples of asphyxiation in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The child was being treated at University of Chicago Medical Center for asphyxiation and water in his lungs. — Stephen Sorace, Fox News, "Chicago mom tried to drown son, 3, days after posting online that he had died: police," 28 Sep. 2018 Porter County Coroner Chuck Harris has said an autopsy showed her cause of death was asphyxiation due to drowning. — Amy Lavalley, Post-Tribune, "Judge enters not guilty plea for Valparaiso mom charged with neglect in daughter's death," 12 July 2018 Most of the people were either flash-heated to death from the pyroclastic flow or died from asphyxiation. — New York Times, "He Died at Pompeii, but His Head Wasn’t Crushed by a Block," 29 June 2018 The upgrade comes three months after Kyle Plush died of asphyxiation inside his 2004 Honda Odyssey, despite calling 911 multiple times for help. — Fox News, "City launches Smart911 system in response to teen's death," 13 July 2018 Ingalls is accused of the asphyxiation and intentional overdose death of Brayson Price. — Russ Mcquaid, Indianapolis Star, "Prosecutors: Man accused of overdosing child searched for ‘most painful’ torture techniques," 16 May 2018 The child died of positional asphyxiation or compression, authorities said. — Crystal Hill, miamiherald, "400-pound grandpa tried to restrain boy during a tantrum — and killed him, Ohio authorities say | Miami Herald," 26 Apr. 2018 Brown County Sheriff Gordon Ellis said the 11-year-old died of positional asphyxiationSheriff Ellis said the step-grandfather was leaning over the boy while on a couch to control him. — Cincinnati.com, "400-pound step-grandfather pleads guilty in boy's pinning death," 26 Apr. 2018 Scott, now 38, was convicted in the Sept. 11, 1999 rape and asphyxiation death of 10-year-old Latonya Sager, who was found dead in her bed at her home in Birmingham's Norwood neighborhood. — Ivana Hrynkiw, AL.com, "Alabama Supreme Court won't review cases of two men on death row, convicted of separate killings in Birmingham," 24 Oct. 2017

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