brain death
noun
: final cessation of activity in the central nervous system especially as indicated by a flat electroencephalogram for a predetermined length of time
Examples of brain death in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
At the emergency room, doctors observed symptoms consistent with brain death and she was pronounced dead the next day.
—Amanda Lee Myers, USA TODAY, 17 Oct. 2024
Use can lead to severe headaches, a rise in body temperature, difficulty breathing, extreme drops in blood pressure and even brain death, according to the FDA.
—David Oliver, USA TODAY, 13 June 2024
The tests confirmed brain death, after which Daniel was pronounced dead according to Texas law, Hoosier said in the statement.
—Nicole Lopez, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 5 Apr. 2024
In a step toward testing the procedure in living people, a team at the University of Pennsylvania externally connected the liver to the body of a person who had suffered brain death.
—Sara Reardon, Scientific American, 18 Jan. 2024
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Word History
First Known Use
1921, in the meaning defined above
Dictionary Entries Near brain death
Cite this Entry
“Brain death.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/brain%20death. Accessed 21 Nov. 2024.
Kids Definition
brain death
noun
: the final stopping of activity in the central nervous system as indicated by an electroencephalogram showing no brain waves for a set length of time that is often used as a criterion for human death
brain-dead
adjective
ˈbrān-ˌded
Medical Definition
brain death
noun
: final cessation of activity in the central nervous system especially as indicated by a flat electroencephalogram for a predetermined length of time
brain-dead
adjective
Legal Definition
brain death
nounˈbrān-ˌdeth
: the final stopping of activity in the central nervous system especially as indicated by a flat electroencephalogram for a usually statutorily predetermined period of time
More from Merriam-Webster on brain death
Nglish: Translation of brain death for Spanish Speakers
Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about brain death
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