transfusion

noun

trans·​fu·​sion tran(t)s-ˈfyü-zhən 

1

: an act, process, or instance of transfusing

especially : the process of transfusing fluid (such as blood) into a vein or artery

2

: something transfused

transfusional

tran(t)s-ˈfyü-zh(ə-)nəl 

adjective

Did you know?

When blood transfusions were first attempted by Europeans in the early 1600s, they were met with skepticism, since the established practice was to bleed patients, not transfuse them with blood. Some patients were transfused with animal blood, and so many died as a result that by 1700 transfusions had been widely outlawed. Not until 1900 were the major blood groups (A, B, AB, and O) recognized, making transfusions safe and effective.

Examples of transfusion in a Sentence

Without a transfusion her chances of survival were slim.

Recent Examples on the Web

The products stored were bags of plasma intended for transfusions and plasma used to manufacture medicines, and were either transferred or secured, the statement said. — ABC News, 4 Nov. 2026

The products stored were bags of plasma intended for transfusions and plasma used to manufacture medicines, and were either transferred or secured, the EFS statement said. — CBS News, 4 Nov. 2026

The diagnosis prompted the team to expand her treatment, including plasma transfusions to help combat the infection. — Ashley Vega, PEOPLE, 3 Nov. 2026

Less common modes include vertical transmission (from mother to child) and transfusion transmission, when contaminated donor blood gives rise to an infection in the transfusion recipient. — Encyclopedia Britannica, 23 Oct. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1578, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing transfusion

• blood transfusion

Rhymes for transfusion

• allusion
• collusion
• conclusion
• confusion
• contusion
• delusion
• diffusion
• effusion
• exclusion
• extrusion
• illusion
• inclusion

Kids Definition

transfusion

noun

trans·​fu·​sion tran(t)s-ˈfyü-zhən 

1

: an act, process, or instance of transfusing

especially : the process of transfusing a fluid and especially blood into a blood vessel

2

: something transfused

Medical Definition

transfusion

noun

trans·​fu·​sion tran(t)s-ˈfyü-zhən 

1

: the process of transfusing fluid (as blood) into a vein or artery

2

: something transfused