Meaning & use
asphyxia
A medical condition caused by a severe lack of oxygen, which can lead to unconsciousness or death.
See it in a sentence
The firefighters treated the victim for asphyxia after pulling her from the smoke-filled building.
Doctors explained that asphyxia at birth can sometimes cause lasting brain damage.
A note on using this word
Asphyxia is often caused by choking, drowning, or smoke inhalation; the related verb is asphyxiate.
Words with a similar meaning
suffocation
Choose a synonym to suit the sentence. Meanings can overlap without being identical.
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