inhalation

noun

in·​ha·​la·​tion ˌin-hə-ˈlā-shən 

ˌi-nə-ˈlā-

1

: the act or an instance of inhaling

2

: material (such as medication) to be taken in by inhaling

inhalational

ˌin-hə-ˈlā-sh(ə-)nəl 

ˌi-nə-ˈlā-

adjective

Examples of inhalation in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

That same trial found five minutes of daily steam inhalation produced real reductions in symptom burden — a hot shower works just as well for most people. —Allison Palmer, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 22 Apr. 2026

Police found him in a hotel room surrounded by air duster cans, and he was booked on a misdemeanor charge related to the use or inhalation of a volatile chemical. —Ryan Brennan april 15, Miami Herald, 15 Apr. 2026

He was booked on a misdemeanor possession charge for use/inhalation of a volatile chemical. —Ryan Brennan april 15, Kansas City Star, 15 Apr. 2026

Those claims alleged that companies had engineered products to be more addictive; for example, by adding chemicals to speed and intensify nicotine delivery to the brain and to ease inhalation, so that smokers would become unable to quit. —Jeannie Suk Gersen, New Yorker, 9 Apr. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1623, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing inhalation

• smoke inhalation

Rhymes for inhalation

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

Kids Definition

inhalation

noun

in·​ha·​la·​tion ˌin-(h)ə-ˈlā-shən 

: the act or instance of inhaling

Medical Definition

inhalation

noun

in·​ha·​la·​tion ˌin-(h)ə-ˈlā-shən, ˌin-ᵊl-ˈā- 

1

: the act or an instance of inhaling

specifically : the action of drawing air into the lungs by means of a complex of essentially reflex actions that involve changes in the diaphragm and in muscles of the abdomen and thorax which cause enlargement of the chest cavity and lungs resulting in production of relatively negative pressure within the lungs so that air flows in until the pressure is restored to equality with that of the atmosphere

2

: material (as medication) to be taken in by inhaling

inhalational

-shnəl, -shən-ᵊl 

adjective