dyspnea

noun

dys·​pnea ˈdis(p)-nē-ə 

: difficult or labored respiration

dyspneic

ˈdis(p)-nē-ik 

adjective

Examples of dyspnea in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Relative lack of dyspnea (shortness of breath) Symptoms Symptoms of COVID-19 pneumonia are generally similar to other forms of pneumonia. —Korin Miller, Health, 28 Nov. 2023

But dyspnea is a medical emergency, after all, so in many cases there was simply no time for that last call, or anyone available to arrange it. —Zeynep Tufekci, The Atlantic, 9 July 2020

In severe cases, the novel coronavirus can cause labored breathing (dyspnea), which progresses into acute respiratory distress in critical cases. —Daniel Tenreiro, National Review, 1 May 2020

There are three major reasons people feel a sense of dyspnea, or labored breathing, Moss said. —Fox News, 28 Apr. 2020

The most common adverse reactions (≥20%) seen in patients receiving Opdivo were fatigue, musculoskeletal pain, cough, dyspnea, and decreased appetite. —Rachel Reiff Ellis, Woman's Day, 17 Mar. 2020

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from Latin dyspnoea, borrowed from Greek dýspnoia, from dýspnoos, dýspnous "short of breath" (from dys- dys- + -pnoos, nominal ablaut derivative from the base of pnéō, pneîn "to breathe") + -ia -ia entry 1 — more at sneeze entry 1

First Known Use

circa 1681, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

dyspnea

noun

dys·​pnea ˈdis(p)-nē-ə 

: difficult or labored breathing

Medical Definition

dyspnea

noun

dys·​pnea

variants or chiefly British dyspnoea

ˈdis(p)-nē-ə 

: difficult or labored respiration compare eupnea

dyspneic adjective

or chiefly British dyspnoeic

-nē-ik