ventilation

noun

ven·​ti·​la·​tion ˌven-tə-ˈlā-shən 

1

: the act or process of ventilating

2

a

: circulation of air

a room with good ventilation

b(1)

: the circulation and exchange of gases in the lungs or gills that is basic to respiration

(2)

: artificial respiration of the lungs

specifically : mechanical ventilation

ventilation to supply oxygen to the patient's lungs

3

: a system or means of providing fresh air

Examples of ventilation in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

There was a gap between the ventilation hood unit filters at the front of the service grill. —Camila Pedrosa, Sacbee.com, 17 Oct. 2025

An AirScape back panel provides ventilation and proper ergonomic support. —Christopher Murray May Earn A Commission If You Buy Through Our Referral Links. This Content Was Created By A Team That Works Independently From The Fox Newsroom., FOXNews.com, 17 Oct. 2025

Its biggest product group is refrigerants, accounting for about half the segment’s revenue and serving attractive end markets like stationary HVAC (heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning), data center cooling, and automotive HVAC. —Jeff Marks, CNBC, 17 Oct. 2025

The four-story building was originally built in 1973 and has troublesome mechanical issues related to its elevators and the heating, ventilation and air conditioning system. —Arkansas Online, 16 Oct. 2025

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from Latin ventilātiōn-, ventilātiō, from ventilāre "to expose to the air, ventilate" + -tiōn-, -tiō, suffix of action nouns

First Known Use

1664, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing ventilation

• artificial ventilation
• mechanical ventilation

Rhymes for ventilation

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

Kids Definition

ventilation

noun

ven·​ti·​la·​tion ˌvent-ᵊl-ˈā-shən 

1

: the act or process of ventilating

2

: circulation of air

a room with good ventilation

3

: a system or means of providing fresh air

Medical Definition

ventilation

noun

ven·​ti·​la·​tion ˌvent-ᵊl-ˈā-shən 

1

: the circulation and exchange of gases in the lungs or gills that is basic to respiration

2

: artificial respiration of the lungs

specifically : mechanical ventilation

began ventilation to supply oxygen to the patient's lungs

3

: the circulation of air through a space and especially an enclosed space