platypnea

P3L1A1T1Y4P3N1E1A1

noun

Shortness of breath that occurs when the patient is upright, that is, sufficient breathing only when lying flat.

Opposite
orthopneaorthopnoeaorthopnœa
OriginAncient Greek πλατύς →
Scrabble 16
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Meanings

nounplatypnea (uncountable)
  1. uncountablemedicineShortness of breath that occurs when the patient is upright, that is, sufficient breathing only when lying flat.

Synonyms & antonyms

Opposite
orthopneaorthopnoeaorthopnœa

Origin

  1. Ancient Greekπλατύς“flat”
  2. Englishplatypnea

From platy- + -pnea, from Ancient Greek πλατύς (platús, “flat”) and πνοή (pnoḗ, “breath, breathing”).

More words from Ancient Greek

Full word history & related roots →
Cite this entry
APA

platypnea. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 4, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/platypnea

MLA

“platypnea.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/platypnea. Accessed November 4, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “platypnea,” accessed November 4, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/platypnea.

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