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

Per the Cleveland Clinic, patients undergoing TIL therapy receive regular chemotherapy infusions for several days in the lead-up to an eventual transfusion of the lymphocytes, which is followed by an immunotherapy treatment to activate the TILs. — Zoey Lyttle, PEOPLE, 29 June 2026

In the early years of HIV/AIDS, social stigma and lack of treatment prevented voluntary anonymous testing, while health care providers failed to warn patients in need of transfusions that the public blood supply continued to be unscreened, with the risk of transfusion AIDS. — M. Sara Rosenthal, STAT, 25 June 2026

The restaurant has another frozen version of a golf course favorite called the transfusion, made with vodka, grape juice, ginger and lime. — Angela Hansberger, AJC.com, 21 June 2026

But on this day in 1667, medicine took its first bold, strange step toward modern transfusion science. — Encyclopedia Britannica, 10 June 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