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

Police ruled out foul play and determined that Henry’s official cause of death was asphyxiation leading to heart failure. —Elizabeth Yuko, Rolling Stone, 8 Oct. 2025

Bernadette died of asphyxiation, according to an autopsy. —Escher Walcott, PEOPLE, 8 Oct. 2025

The official cause of death was asphyxiation. —Randall Colburn, Entertainment Weekly, 7 Oct. 2025

Henry's body sustained serious burns, and the official cause of death was asphyxiation leading to heart failure. —Jr Radcliffe, jsonline.com, 6 Oct. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1829, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing asphyxiation

• autoerotic asphyxiation

Rhymes for asphyxiation

• abbreviation
• abomination
• acceleration
• accentuation
• accommodation
• accreditation
• acculturation
• accumulation
• acetylation
• adjudication
• administration
• adulteration