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

More recently, other symptoms have also been associated with PMOS, including sleep apnea, depression, anxiety and body dysmorphia, Vash-Margita said. —Madeline Holcombe, CNN Money, 13 May 2026

None of these fixes is a cure for chronic insomnia or sleep apnea. —Allison Palmer, Miami Herald, 12 May 2026

The standard treatment for sleep apnea is continuous positive airway pressure, or CPAP, which prevents airway collapse with a stream of air through the mouth or nose. —Erika Yamazaki, The Conversation, 6 May 2026

While Novo Nordisk's GLP-1 is approved for reducing cardiovascular risks and treating patients with liver and kidney disease, Eli Lilly's GLP-1/GIP combo is approved for treating sleep apnea in people with obesity. —Elsa Ohlen, CNBC, 4 May 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1975, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for sleep apnea

• hypercapnia

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