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

The recall was issued after a 23-month-old boy died from asphyxiation in February 2023. —Escher Walcott, People.com, 3 Aug. 2025

His death was ruled accidental and the cause was confirmed as asphyxiation by submersion. —Jami Ganz, New York Daily News, 25 July 2025

An autopsy revealed Barrett died of asphyxiation, or oxygen deprivation. —Evan Mealins, The Tennessean, 13 July 2025

An autopsy confirmed that the 53-year-old New Jersey native died from asphyxiation by submersion. —Amber Corrine, VIBE.com, 25 July 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