strangulation

noun

stran·​gu·​la·​tion ˌstraŋ-gyə-ˈlā-shən 

1

: the action or process of strangling or strangulating

2

: the state of being strangled or strangulated

especially : excessive or pathological constriction or compression of a bodily tube (such as a blood vessel or a loop of intestine) that interrupts its ability to act as a passage

Examples of strangulation in a Sentence

The cause of death was strangulation.

Recent Examples on the Web

Nora’s cause of death was ruled as asphyxiation by strangulation, per La Nación, and investigators determined she had been killed the previous morning. —Emily Blackwood, People.com, 23 June 2025

The Gary Housing Authority Executive Director charged with two counts of strangulation and two misdemeanor counts of domestic battery was upset over a relative in the house cooking food, court documents show. —Michelle L. Quinn, Chicago Tribune, 23 June 2025

There was Antoine Massey, 32, who stood out for his face tattoos of chess pieces and was in jail on charges of domestic abuse involving strangulation and theft of a motor vehicle. —Chris Kenning, USA Today, 17 June 2025

The baby, whose stomach was empty, showed signs of strangulation. —Antonia Mortensen, CNN Money, 17 June 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1542, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for strangulation

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

Kids Definition

strangulation

noun

stran·​gu·​la·​tion ˌstraŋ-gyə-ˈlā-shən 

1

: an act or process of strangling

2

: the state of being strangled

Medical Definition

strangulation

noun

stran·​gu·​la·​tion ˌstraŋ-gyə-ˈlā-shən 

1

: the action or process of strangling or strangulating

2

: the state of being strangled or strangulated

especially : excessive or pathological constriction or compression of a bodily tube (as a blood vessel or a loop of intestine) that interrupts its ability to act as a passage