transfusion

noun

trans·​fu·​sion tran(t)s-ˈfyü-zhən How to pronounce transfusion (audio)
1
: an act, process, or instance of transfusing
especially : the process of transfusing fluid (such as blood) into a vein or artery
2
: something transfused
transfusional adjective

Did you know?

When blood transfusions were first attempted by Europeans in the early 1600s, they were met with skepticism, since the established practice was to bleed patients, not transfuse them with blood. Some patients were transfused with animal blood, and so many died as a result that by 1700 transfusions had been widely outlawed. Not until 1900 were the major blood groups (A, B, AB, and O) recognized, making transfusions safe and effective.

Examples of transfusion in a Sentence

Without a transfusion her chances of survival were slim.
Recent Examples on the Web
These examples are automatically compiled from online sources to illustrate current usage. Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
The seemingly benign therapy of periodic transfusions carries its own risks, including a toxic overload of iron that has to be scavenged from the body. Maryn McKenna, Scientific American, 17 Sep. 2024 Hundreds of hospitals across the Southeast faced disruptions to their ability to obtain blood for transfusions after nonprofit OneBlood, a donation service, fell victim to a ransomware attack. Tribune News Service, The Mercury News, 28 Sep. 2024 Those transfusions over time can cause iron to build up within organs such as the liver, lungs and heart and can cause damage severe enough to affect his overall health and life expectancy. Kristen Jordan Shamus, Detroit Free Press, 24 Sep. 2024 In one case, hundreds of hospitals across the Southeast faced disruptions to their ability to obtain blood for transfusions after nonprofit OneBlood, a donation service, fell victim to a ransomware attack. Darius Tahir, NPR, 17 Sep. 2024 See all Example Sentences for transfusion 

Word History

First Known Use

1578, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of transfusion was in 1578

Dictionary Entries Near transfusion

Cite this Entry

“Transfusion.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/transfusion. Accessed 5 Nov. 2024.

Kids Definition

transfusion

noun
trans·​fu·​sion tran(t)s-ˈfyü-zhən How to pronounce transfusion (audio)
1
: an act, process, or instance of transfusing
especially : the process of transfusing a fluid and especially blood into a blood vessel
2
: something transfused

Medical Definition

transfusion

noun
trans·​fu·​sion tran(t)s-ˈfyü-zhən How to pronounce transfusion (audio)
1
: the process of transfusing fluid (as blood) into a vein or artery
2
: something transfused

More from Merriam-Webster on transfusion

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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