hyperthermia

noun

hy·​per·​ther·​mia ˌhī-pər-ˈthər-mē-ə 

: exceptionally high fever especially when induced artificially for therapeutic purposes

hyperthermic

ˌhī-pər-ˈthər-mik 

adjective

Examples of hyperthermia in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

For example, some healthy athletes can experience mild hyperthermia without health problems during intense exercise. —Ruth Jessen Hickman, Md, Verywell Health, 15 Jan. 2025

Babies, young children and adolescent athletes may experience hyperthermia, kidney disease and even death from exposure to severe heat. —Frederica Perera, Scientific American, 31 Oct. 2024

Due to overheating, and likely stress, she is said to have died of hyperthermia during Sputnik 2’s fourth orbit of Earth. —Scott Travers, Forbes, 11 Jan. 2025

An autopsy showed the young girl died from hyperthermia, or overheating, according to WPTA. —Sean Neumann, People.com, 9 Dec. 2024

Word History

Etymology

New Latin, from hyper- + therm- + -ia

First Known Use

1887, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for hyperthermia

• hypothermia

Medical Definition

hyperthermia

noun

hy·​per·​ther·​mia ˌhī-pər-ˈthər-mē-ə 

1

: elevated temperature of the body (as that occurring in heatstroke) see malignant hyperthermia

2

: the artificial heating of all or part of the body (as in diathermy) for therapeutic purposes (as to treat cancer)

hyperthermic

-mik 

adjective