hypoxia

noun

hyp·​ox·​ia hi-ˈpäk-sē-ə How to pronounce hypoxia (audio) hī- How to pronounce hypoxia (audio)
: a deficiency of oxygen reaching the tissues of the body

Examples of hypoxia in a Sentence

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.
Arkansas became the fifth state to authorize nitrogen hypoxia as a method of execution Tuesday, after Republican Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders signed legislation codifying the controversial method into law. James Powel, USA TODAY, 19 Mar. 2025 State of play: Arkansas is the fifth state to legalize use of nitrogen hypoxia, which Little Rock Rev. Jeff Hood — who witnessed the first such execution in 2024 — equated to suffocation. Worth Sparkman, Axios, 19 Mar. 2025 Louisiana Corrections Secretary Gary Westcott selected nitrogen hypoxia as Hoffman's method of execution after officials have had trouble procuring the necessary lethal injection drugs following the state's last execution in 2010. Erik Ortiz, NBC News, 18 Mar. 2025 The judge also admonished state officials for refusing to make the new nitrogen hypoxia protocol publicly available. Faisal Kutty, Newsweek, 12 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for hypoxia

Word History

Etymology

New Latin

First Known Use

1941, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of hypoxia was in 1941

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Hypoxia.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/hypoxia. Accessed 16 Apr. 2025.

Medical Definition

hypoxia

noun
hyp·​ox·​ia hip-ˈäk-sē-ə How to pronounce hypoxia (audio) hī-ˈpäk- How to pronounce hypoxia (audio)
: a deficiency of oxygen reaching the tissues of the body
hypoxic adjective

More from Merriam-Webster on hypoxia

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!