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

Like many large dogs in overcrowded shelters, he has been deemed at high risk for euthanasia. —Melissa Fleur Afshar, MSNBC Newsweek, 17 June 2025

And where both become entrenched, more aggressive forms of euthanasia tend to become prevalent, with or without the formal sanction of law. —The Editors, National Review, 10 June 2025

The man was told the cost of the euthanasia was $500. —Jennifer Rodriguez, Kansas City Star, 3 June 2025

And there were 28 kittens, 11 adult cats and five dogs, all taken in from another shelter, an overcrowded system where the potential pets were at risk of euthanasia. —Teri Figueroa, San Diego Union-Tribune, 10 May 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