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

If snoring is the trigger, having that partner screened for sleep apnea is a practical first step before anything else. —Allison Palmer, Sacbee.com, 3 Apr. 2026

Foundayo is also being studied as a potential treatment for type 2 diabetes, obstructive sleep apnea, osteoarthritis, knee pain, hypertension, peripheral artery disease and stress urinary incontinence. —Angelica Stabile, FOXNews.com, 2 Apr. 2026

People with obstructive sleep apnea, for example, should sleep on their side or stomach, rather than their back. —Caroline C. Boyle, USA Today, 1 Apr. 2026

This release added a ton of stuff for swimmers, including depth tracking and water temperature sensors, as well as sleep apnea alerts for snorers. —K. Thor Jensen, PC Magazine, 1 Apr. 2026

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