strangulation

noun

stran·​gu·​la·​tion ˌstraŋ-gyə-ˈlā-shən 

1

: the action or process of strangling or strangulating

2

: the state of being strangled or strangulated

especially : excessive or pathological constriction or compression of a bodily tube (such as a blood vessel or a loop of intestine) that interrupts its ability to act as a passage

Examples of strangulation in a Sentence

The cause of death was strangulation.

Recent Examples on the Web

Castellanos Triminio faces charges of strong-arm robbery, child neglect, false imprisonment, and battery by strangulation. —February 23, CBS News, 23 Feb. 2026

In June, Compton took a plea deal that dismissed the battery counts, strangulation count and domestic battery misdemeanor, according to online court records. —Michelle L. Quinn, Chicago Tribune, 23 Feb. 2026

Ahmad was previously arrested for strangulation in a domestic violence incident in 2023 and for robbery in 2014, police said. —Rebecca White, New York Daily News, 23 Feb. 2026

The setup relies on a breakaway safety clasp, a small mechanism engineered to pop open under force to prevent strangulation, like the badge lanyards at any conference. —Eric Sullivan, Scientific American, 21 Feb. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1542, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for strangulation

• abdication
• aberration
• abjuration
• abnegation
• abrogation
• acceptation
• acclamation
• acclimation
• accusation
• activation
• actuation
• acylation

Kids Definition

strangulation

noun

stran·​gu·​la·​tion ˌstraŋ-gyə-ˈlā-shən 

1

: an act or process of strangling

2

: the state of being strangled

Medical Definition

strangulation

noun

stran·​gu·​la·​tion ˌstraŋ-gyə-ˈlā-shən 

1

: the action or process of strangling or strangulating

2

: the state of being strangled or strangulated

especially : excessive or pathological constriction or compression of a bodily tube (as a blood vessel or a loop of intestine) that interrupts its ability to act as a passage