apnea

noun

ap·​nea ˈap-nē-ə How to pronounce apnea (audio)
1
: transient cessation of respiration
especially : sleep apnea
2

Examples of apnea in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
In June 2017, a coroner's report attributed Fisher's death to sleep apnea and other undetermined factors. Jordana Comiter, People.com, 27 Dec. 2024 Obesity, which can narrow the airway, is one of the leading contributors to sleep apnea. Berkeley Lovelace Jr., NBC News, 20 Dec. 2024 In babies and young children, symptoms may include pauses in breathing instead of coughing, which is called apnea and can cause a bluish skin tone or shortness of breath, according to MDHHS. Nour Rahal, Detroit Free Press, 13 Dec. 2024 Overall, men are two to three times more likely to suffer from apnea than women. Jeffrey Kluger, TIME, 8 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for apnea 

Word History

Etymology

New Latin, from a- + -pnea

First Known Use

circa 1719, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of apnea was circa 1719

Dictionary Entries Near apnea

Cite this Entry

“Apnea.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/apnea. Accessed 6 Jan. 2025.

Medical Definition

apnea

noun
ap·​nea
variants or chiefly British apnoea
1
: transient cessation of respiration whether normal (as in hibernating animals) or abnormal (as that caused by certain drugs) see sleep apnea
2
apneic adjective
or chiefly British apnoeic

More from Merriam-Webster on apnea

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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