sleep apnea

noun

: apnea that recurs during sleep and is caused especially by obstruction of the airway or a disturbance in the brain's respiratory center

Examples of sleep apnea in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Globally, obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) affects approximately one billion people. —New Atlas, 13 Oct. 2025

Studies show that angling yourself upright during sleep can help combat a number of related issues—including sleep apnea, acid reflux, lower back pain, and snoring. —Nashia Baker, Architectural Digest, 10 Oct. 2025

Obstructive sleep apnea is a disorder in which people briefly stop breathing or breath very shallowly during sleep, multiple times per hour. —Becky Upham, EverydayHealth.com, 8 Oct. 2025

Much of sleep medicine research focuses on specific problems, such as sleep apnea’s link to cognitive decline, how insomnia affects the heart or whether someone is a night owl or an early bird. —Lindsey Leake, NBC news, 8 Oct. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1975, in the meaning defined above

Medical Definition

sleep apnea

noun

: brief periods of recurrent cessation of breathing during sleep that is caused especially by obstruction of the airway or a disturbance in the brain's respiratory center and is associated especially with excessive daytime sleepiness