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

Besides dyspnea, sharp and one-sided chest pain is typical.12 Anaphylaxis is a life-threatening allergic reaction to a trigger (e.g., food, medicine, or insect stings). —Colleen Doherty, Verywell Health, 28 Oct. 2025

Ingestion can lead to dyspnea, vomiting, diarrhea, and central nervous system depression. —Anna Halkidis, Parents, 5 Apr. 2024

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

Rhymes for dyspnea

• chia
• mia
• pia
• rhea
• shia
• stria
• thea
• zia
• aliya
• aliyah
• althea
• apnoea

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