anesthesia

noun

an·​es·​the·​sia ˌa-nəs-ˈthē-zhə How to pronounce anesthesia (audio)
1
: loss of sensation with or without loss of consciousness
The patient was given intravenous medication to induce anesthesia.
… doctors freeze the tumor with little coils filled with liquid nitrogen that are inserted in the prostate under anesthesia.Andy Grove
Awareness during anesthesia is a serious complication with potential long-term psychological consequences.Michael S. Avidan et al.
We often radiograph dogs when they are under anesthesia for spaying or neutering or other routine procedures.Bonnie Wilcox
see also general anesthesia, local anesthesia
2
: an agent that produces anesthesia : anesthetic
A capnometer measures the amount of carbon dioxide in exhaled air, thereby insuring that the tubes bringing oxygen and anesthesia to the patient are properly placed.Lisa Belkin
She was still groggy from her anesthesia, and she had an I.V. tube in her arm.The New Yorker
These substances [=endorphins], which have been identified in recent years through research on brain chemistry, act as a natural anesthesia that can lessen extreme pain.Norman Cousins

Examples of anesthesia in a Sentence

The patient was given an injection to induce anesthesia.
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.
Researchers put a red dye mark on chimpanzees under anesthesia; once awake, the chimps saw their reflection in a mirror. Leticia Fanucchi, The Conversation, 10 Feb. 2025 Rocuronium is often used with anesthesia while preparing patients for surgery, according to the Mayo Clinic. Mitchell Willetts, Kansas City Star, 19 Jan. 2025 The patient was safe with another surgeon and the anesthesia team, who were finishing up the procedure. Melissa Rudy, Fox News, 17 Jan. 2025 The new price cap applies to all prescription drugs under Medicare Part D, but doesn’t include drugs given to patients in the hospital or other health-care settings such as anesthesia and chemotherapy. Annika Kim Constantino, CNBC, 16 Jan. 2025 See All Example Sentences for anesthesia

Word History

Etymology

New Latin, from Greek anaisthēsia insensibility, from a- + aisthēsis perception, from aisthanesthai to perceive — more at audible

First Known Use

1708, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of anesthesia was in 1708

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Cite this Entry

“Anesthesia.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/anesthesia. Accessed 10 Mar. 2025.

Kids Definition

anesthesia

noun
an·​es·​the·​sia ˌan-əs-ˈthē-zhə How to pronounce anesthesia (audio)
: loss of bodily sensation with or without loss of consciousness

Medical Definition

anesthesia

noun
an·​es·​the·​sia
variants or chiefly British anaesthesia
1
: loss of sensation with or without loss of consciousness that is artificially produced by the administration of one or more agents that block the passage of pain impulses along nerve pathways to the brain
… doctors freeze the tumor with little coils filled with liquid nitrogen that are inserted in the prostate under anesthesia.Andy Grove
Awareness during anesthesia is a serious complication with potential long-term psychological consequences.Michael S. Avidan et al.
see general anesthesia, local anesthesia
2
: loss of sensation especially to touch usually resulting from injury or disease
3
: an agent that produces anesthesia : anesthetic
During surgery, you will be given some form of anesthesia, which are medicines given to relieve pain and sensation during surgery.HopkinsMedicine.org
A capnometer measures the amount of carbon dioxide in exhaled air, thereby insuring that the tubes bringing oxygen and anesthesia to the patient are properly placed.Lisa Belkin

More from Merriam-Webster on anesthesia

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