asphyxiation

noun

as·​phyx·​i·​ation as-ˌfik-sē-ˈā-shən 

əs-

: 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

This often involved pilgrimages to the remote sacrificial sites, with colonial accounts describing strangulation, asphyxiation, and blunt force trauma as the most common methods of sacrifice. — ArsTechnica, 3 Aug. 2026

The public health authority said that medical responders had performed CPR on three of the victims, but each had died from asphyxiation and had been identified by their families. — Adam Crafton, New York Times, 27 July 2026

On Wednesday, July 22, Abdoulaye Dieng died from asphyxiation after trapping his head between a mirror and an iron bar at the Luz do Brás daycare center in São Paulo, Brazilian outlets O Globo and G1 reported. — Escher Walcott, PEOPLE, 25 July 2026

Officials believe Madilynn Hadaway died of asphyxiation, but didn't release additional information. — Adam Sabes, FOXNews.com, 17 July 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1829, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing asphyxiation

• autoerotic asphyxiation

Rhymes for asphyxiation

• abdication
• aberration
• abjuration
• abnegation
• abrogation
• acceptation
• acclamation
• acclimation
• accusation
• activation
• actuation
• acylation