hypovolemia
noun
hy·po·vo·le·mia
ˌhī-pō-vä-ˈlē-mē-ə 
medical
: a decrease in the volume of circulating blood in the body (as from traumatic injury or severe dehydration)
… fever and hypotension are common features in critically ill patients and may be attributed to sepsis and hypovolemia.—
Mark S. Cooper et al.
Mark S. Cooper et al.
hypovolemic
adjective
hypovolemic shock with multiple organ failure following rapid blood loss
a hypovolemic patient
Examples of hypovolemia in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
The drug had a robust safety and tolerability record throughout the clinical trial stages, with the most common side effects reported being hypovolemia, headache, muscle cramps, dizziness and nausea.
—New Atlas, 15 Sep. 2025
The coroner ruled Carol’s cause of death as hypovolemia, which is when the plasma is too low from excessive bleeding; multiple stab and incised wounds from a sharp instrument; and a blunt force injury that fractured the skull, according to the coroner’s report.
—Stephanie Warsmith, USA Today, 8 June 2025
The family said that Joe was suffering from major hypovolemia, a condition in which the body loses fluid, which is crucial to maintaining organ function, according to The Guardian.
—David Chiu, People.com, 20 Feb. 2025
Acute kidney failure: When the body loses too much fluid (hypovolemia), the kidneys can lose their ability to filter blood, causing toxins to accumulate.
—Kashif J. Piracha, Verywell Health, 12 July 2024
If the infestation is extreme and a person is exposed to bed bug bites for a long period of time, the individual may develop anemia and symptoms of low blood volume, known as hypovolemia, Pereira said, adding that the scenario is rare.
—Cindy Krischer Goodman, Sun Sentinel, 14 June 2024
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
New Atlas, 15 Sep. 2025
The coroner ruled Carol’s cause of death as hypovolemia, which is when the plasma is too low from excessive bleeding; multiple stab and incised wounds from a sharp instrument; and a blunt force injury that fractured the skull, according to the coroner’s report.
—Stephanie Warsmith, USA Today, 8 June 2025
The family said that Joe was suffering from major hypovolemia, a condition in which the body loses fluid, which is crucial to maintaining organ function, according to The Guardian.
—David Chiu, People.com, 20 Feb. 2025
Acute kidney failure: When the body loses too much fluid (hypovolemia), the kidneys can lose their ability to filter blood, causing toxins to accumulate.
—Kashif J. Piracha, Verywell Health, 12 July 2024
If the infestation is extreme and a person is exposed to bed bug bites for a long period of time, the individual may develop anemia and symptoms of low blood volume, known as hypovolemia, Pereira said, adding that the scenario is rare.
—Cindy Krischer Goodman, Sun Sentinel, 14 June 2024
Cite this Entry
“Hypovolemia.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/hypovolemia. Accessed 31 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationMedical Definition
hypovolemia
noun
hy·po·vo·le·mia
variants
or chiefly British hypovolaemia
: decrease in the volume of the circulating blood
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share