euthanasia

noun

eu·​tha·​na·​sia ˌyü-thə-ˈnā-zh(ē-)ə 

: the act or practice of killing or permitting the death of hopelessly sick or injured individuals (such as persons or domestic animals) in a relatively painless way for reasons of mercy

euthanasic

ˌyü-thə-ˈnā-zik 

-sik

adjective

Did you know?

Where does euthanasia come from?

Euthanasia is a mass noun (or noncount noun), that is, a noun used only in the singular form.

The word comes from the Greek euthanatos, which means “easy death.” In English, euthanasia has been used in exactly this sense since the early seventeenth century, when Francis Bacon described the phenomenon as “after the fashion and semblance of a kindly & pleasant sleepe.” Nowadays, the word usually refers to the means of attaining such a death.

Examples of euthanasia in a Sentence

a physician who refuses to practice euthanasia

Recent Examples on the Web

In May, Glenn Hickman, said the outbreak has killed or forced the euthanasia of 95% of Hickman’s Family Farms’ Arizona hen population, totaling about 6 million dead birds. —Rey Covarrubias Jr, AZCentral.com, 18 Nov. 2025

Shelters across the country are dealing with overcrowding problems, with many resorting to euthanasia just to make space for the constant influx of animals. —Alyce Collins, MSNBC Newsweek, 17 Nov. 2025

One of their goals is to rescue dogs from county shelters that are at risk of euthanasia. —Allison Moses, USA Today, 28 Oct. 2025

Farms are required to follow humane treatment and euthanasia standards for the animals, Hobbs said. —Preston Fore, Fortune, 25 Oct. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Greek, easy death, from euthanatos, from eu- + thanatos death — more at thanatos

First Known Use

1605, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for euthanasia

• achalasia
• hyperplasia
• hypoplasia
• metaplasia
• neoplasia
• aphasia
• aplasia
• dysplasia
• fantasia
• telangiectasia

Kids Definition

euthanasia

noun

eu·​tha·​na·​sia ˌyü-thə-ˈnā-zh(ē-)ə 

: the act or practice of killing or permitting the death of hopelessly sick or injured persons or animals with as little pain as possible for reasons of mercy

called also mercy killing

Medical Definition

euthanasia

noun

eu·​tha·​na·​sia ˌyü-thə-ˈnā-zh(ē-)ə 

: the act or practice of causing or permitting the death of hopelessly sick or injured individuals (such as persons or domestic animals) in a relatively painless way for reasons of mercy

called also mercy killing

Legal Definition

euthanasia

noun

eu·​tha·​na·​sia ˌyü-thə-ˈnā-zhə 

: the act or practice of killing or permitting the death of hopelessly sick or injured persons in a relatively painless way for reasons of mercy

called also mercy killing

euthanasic

-ˈnā-zik, -sik 

adjective