epi·du·ral
ˌe-pi-ˈd(y)u̇r-əl 
: situated upon or administered or placed outside the dura mater
epidural anesthesia
an epidural abscess
: an injection of a local anesthetic into the space outside the dura mater of the spinal cord in the lower back region to produce loss of sensation especially in the abdomen or pelvic region
Examples of epidural in a Sentence
Noun
Many women undergoing childbirth are given epidurals.
Recent Examples on the Web
Beth Mole, Ars Technica, 16 June 2023
All of the patients had undergone cosmetic procedures — such as breast implants, butt lifts or liposuction — that required epidural anesthesia.
—Barbara Mantel, NBC News, 8 Feb. 2024
The outbreak is linked to cosmetic surgeries involving epidural anesthesia at two clinics in Matamoros, Mexico, just across the border from Brownsville, Texas.
—Ron Amadeo, Ars Technica, 30 June 2023
There wouldn’t be an anesthesiologist on hand to numb the pain with an epidural, much less an expert in maternal-fetal medicine.
—Stephania Taladrid, The New Yorker, 8 Jan. 2024
The same research found that acupressure did not reduce the amount of epidural use or shorten labor.
—Kristi Pahr, Parents, 3 Oct. 2023
Epidurals are often used in labor and delivery and other surgeries and involve injecting anesthetic directly into the spine—specifically into a space around spinal nerves called the epidural space.
—Beth Mole, Ars Technica, 19 May 2023
Martinez received an epidural shot to address discomfort in his groin/hamstring area and will be unavailable until at least Saturday.
—Jack Harris, Los Angeles Times, 10 Aug. 2023
That said, some conditions make epidural anesthesia risky or not possible during your delivery.
—Kristi Pahr, Parents, 8 Sep. 2023
Bracey Harris, NBC News, 9 Sep. 2023
The doctor and the epidural didn’t make it in time!
—Hannah Sacks, Peoplemag, 15 Mar. 2024
Everyone's labor goes on its own timetable but stalling for over 2 hours (or 3 hours with an epidural) is considered abnormal.
—Parents Editors, Parents, 4 Mar. 2024
That finding supports the theory that the fungus was introduced into the epidural by contaminated morphine and not poor hygiene during surgery, Smith said.
—Barbara Mantel, NBC News, 8 Feb. 2024
That outbreak mostly affected women having epidurals during cesarean section births in private hospitals.
—Beth Mole, Ars Technica, 16 June 2023
Studies find that Black women who plan to deliver without an epidural are more likely to be pressured into using one.
—Sarah Kliff, New York Times, 6 May 2023
Avoids the potential side effects associated with epidurals.
—Marisa Cohen, Parents, 12 Aug. 2023
Previously, an anesthesiologist at Woodhull was investigated for botching epidurals.
—Joseph Goldstein, New York Times, 4 Jan. 2024
Adjective
Health officials in the US and Mexico suspect that the infections stem from cosmetic procedures, including liposuction, that involved epidural anesthesia, a component of which may have been contaminated with the fungus Fusarium solani.
—Beth Mole, Ars Technica, 16 June 2023
All of the patients had undergone cosmetic procedures — such as breast implants, butt lifts or liposuction — that required epidural anesthesia.
—Barbara Mantel, NBC News, 8 Feb. 2024
The outbreak is linked to cosmetic surgeries involving epidural anesthesia at two clinics in Matamoros, Mexico, just across the border from Brownsville, Texas.
—Ron Amadeo, Ars Technica, 30 June 2023
There wouldn’t be an anesthesiologist on hand to numb the pain with an epidural, much less an expert in maternal-fetal medicine.
—Stephania Taladrid, The New Yorker, 8 Jan. 2024
The same research found that acupressure did not reduce the amount of epidural use or shorten labor.
—Kristi Pahr, Parents, 3 Oct. 2023
Epidurals are often used in labor and delivery and other surgeries and involve injecting anesthetic directly into the spine—specifically into a space around spinal nerves called the epidural space.
—Beth Mole, Ars Technica, 19 May 2023
Martinez received an epidural shot to address discomfort in his groin/hamstring area and will be unavailable until at least Saturday.
—Jack Harris, Los Angeles Times, 10 Aug. 2023
That said, some conditions make epidural anesthesia risky or not possible during your delivery.
—Kristi Pahr, Parents, 8 Sep. 2023
Noun
The center had offered patients with low-risk pregnancies a place to deliver their babies outside of a hospital, where cesarean sections weren’t performed, epidurals weren’t administered and midwives took the lead.
—Bracey Harris, NBC News, 9 Sep. 2023
The doctor and the epidural didn’t make it in time!
—Hannah Sacks, Peoplemag, 15 Mar. 2024
Everyone's labor goes on its own timetable but stalling for over 2 hours (or 3 hours with an epidural) is considered abnormal.
—Parents Editors, Parents, 4 Mar. 2024
That finding supports the theory that the fungus was introduced into the epidural by contaminated morphine and not poor hygiene during surgery, Smith said.
—Barbara Mantel, NBC News, 8 Feb. 2024
That outbreak mostly affected women having epidurals during cesarean section births in private hospitals.
—Beth Mole, Ars Technica, 16 June 2023
Studies find that Black women who plan to deliver without an epidural are more likely to be pressured into using one.
—Sarah Kliff, New York Times, 6 May 2023
Avoids the potential side effects associated with epidurals.
—Marisa Cohen, Parents, 12 Aug. 2023
Previously, an anesthesiologist at Woodhull was investigated for botching epidurals.
—Joseph Goldstein, New York Times, 4 Jan. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'epidural.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near epidural
Cite this Entry
“Epidural.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/epidural. Accessed 19 Apr. 2024.
Copy CitationMedical Definition
epidural
1 of 2 adjective
epi·du·ral
ˌep-i-ˈd(y)u̇r-əl
: situated upon or administered or placed outside the dura mater
epidural injections
an epidural abscess
epidural
2 of 2 noun
: an injection of an anesthetic to produce epidural anesthesia
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