respirator

noun

res·pi·ra·tor | \ ˈre-spə-ˌrā-tər

plural respirators

Definition of respirator

1 : a mask or device worn over the mouth and nose to protect the respiratory system by filtering out dangerous substances (such as dusts, fumes, or bacteria) from inhaled air

Note: Particulate respirator masks are only able to filter out particles and are not effective against gases or vapors. A numerical rating (such as 95 or 99) is sometimes assigned to such a respirator to indicate the percentage of airborne particles filtered. A letter may also be assigned to indicate whether it is somewhat resistant (R), not resistant (NR), or strongly resistant (P) to the degrading effects of oil on proper respirator function.

2 : a device for maintaining artificial respiration : ventilator sense b

Examples of respirator in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Eva can only breathe for up to three minutes without the respirator. — Pam Mcloughlin, Hartford Courant, 21 June 2022 Your respirator should create a tight seal on your face, without gaps that let in air. — Jamie Ducharme, Time, 20 Apr. 2022 Provided community risk is low or trending downward, Chowell, too, feels comfortable briefly removing his respirator to eat or drink at a party. — Devabhaktuni Srikrishna, Scientific American, 19 Apr. 2022 There are some pretty key ways to tell if your respirator has lost its integrity. — Ashley Abramson, Health.com, 6 Jan. 2022 Masks will still be available for workers who choose to wear them, the release said, noting that the CDC recommends that people who are immunocompromised or at high risk for severe disease should continue to wear a mask or respirator. — Eric D. Lawrence, Detroit Free Press, 4 Mar. 2022 The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention finally acknowledged this month cloth masks do not offer as much protection as a surgical mask or respirator, which some experts have urged the agency to recommend for the general public. — Compiled Democrat-gazette Staff From Wire Reports, Arkansas Online, 17 Jan. 2022 And, avoid wearing an N95 with another mask or respirator. — Erica Sweeney, Good Housekeeping, 14 Jan. 2022 Still, experts have always known that masks used in medical or industrial settings, like a surgical mask or N95 respirator, are far superior at filtering out infectious particles. — Lev Facher, STAT, 30 Dec. 2021 See More

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'respirator.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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Dictionary Entries Near respirator

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Last Updated

24 Jun 2022

Cite this Entry

“Respirator.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/respirator. Accessed 28 Jun. 2022.

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More Definitions for respirator

respirator

noun

res·pi·ra·tor | \ ˈre-spə-ˌrā-tər

Kids Definition of respirator

1 : a device covering the mouth or nose especially to prevent the breathing in of harmful substances (as dust or fumes)

2 : a device used for helping a person to breathe

respirator

noun

res·pi·ra·tor | \ ˈres-pə-ˌrāt-ər

Medical Definition of respirator

1 : a mask or device worn over the mouth and nose to protect the respiratory system by filtering out dangerous substances (as dusts, chemical fumes, or bacteria) from inhaled air

Note: Particulate respirator masks are only able to filter out particles and are not effective against gases or vapors. A numerical rating (such as 95 or 99) is sometimes assigned to a particulate respirator to indicate the percentage of airborne particles filtered. A letter may also be assigned to indicate whether it is somewhat resistant (R), not resistant (NR), or strongly resistant (P) to the degrading effects of oil on proper respirator function.

2 : a device for maintaining artificial respiration : ventilator