asphyxiation

as·phyx·i·a·tion
A1S1P3H4Y4X8I1A1T1I1O1N1
/æsfɪksiˈeɪʃən/

noun

Death due to lack of oxygen.

Similar
suffocation
OriginEnglish asphyxiate →
UncommonScrabble 27
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Meanings

nounasphyxiation (countable and uncountable, plural asphyxiations)

plural asphyxiations

  1. countableuncountableDeath due to lack of oxygen.
  2. countableuncountableAn acute lack of oxygen.

Synonyms & antonyms

nounthe condition of being deprived of oxygen (as by having breathing stopped)

Similar
suffocation
Broader
hypoxia

nounkilling by depriving of oxygen

Similar
suffocation
Broader
killingkillputting to death
Also see
suffocation

Synonym sets from Open English WordNet, CC BY 4.0.

Origin

  1. Englishasphyxia
  2. Englishasphyxiate
  3. Englishasphyxiation

From asphyxiate + -ion.

Full word history & related roots →

Translations

Dutch verstikking
  • verstikkingdeath due to lack of oxygen
Finnish tukehtumiskuolema, tukehtuminen
  • tukehtumiskuolemadeath due to lack of oxygen
  • tukehtuminenan acute lack of oxygen
French asphyxie
  • asphyxiedeath due to lack of oxygen
German Erstickung, Sauerstoffmangel
  • Erstickungdeath due to lack of oxygen
  • Sauerstoffmangelan acute lack of oxygen
Hungarian fulladás, megfulladás
  • fulladásdeath due to lack of oxygen
  • megfulladásdeath due to lack of oxygen
  • fuldoklásan acute lack of oxygen
Irish plúchadh
  • plúchadhan acute lack of oxygen
Māori whakahēmanawatanga
  • whakahēmanawatangadeath due to lack of oxygen
Norwegian oksygenmangel
  • oksygenmangelan acute lack of oxygen
Polish uduszenie, asfiksja
  • uduszeniedeath due to lack of oxygen
  • asfiksjaan acute lack of oxygen
  • zamartwicaan acute lack of oxygen
Spanish asfixia, asfixia
  • asfixiadeath due to lack of oxygen
  • asfixiaan acute lack of oxygen
Swedish kvävning
  • kvävningan acute lack of oxygen
Cite this entry
APA

asphyxiation. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/asphyxiation

MLA

“asphyxiation.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/asphyxiation. Accessed November 3, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “asphyxiation,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/asphyxiation.

Source: asphyxiation on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.