hypothermia

American  

[hahy-puh-thur-mee-uh] / ˌhaɪ pəˈθɜr mi ə /

noun

1. Pathology. subnormal body temperature.

2. Medicine/Medical. the artificial reduction of body temperature to slow metabolic processes, as for facilitating heart surgery.

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hypothermia British  

/ ˌhaɪpəʊˈθɜːmɪə /

noun

1. pathol an abnormally low body temperature, as induced in the elderly by exposure to cold weather

2. med the intentional reduction of normal body temperature, as by ice packs, to reduce the patient's metabolic rate: performed esp in heart and brain surgery

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hypothermia Scientific  

/ hī′pə-thûr′mē-ə /

1. An abnormally low body temperature, often caused by prolonged exposure to cold.

2. Compare hyperthermia

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• hypothermic
  adjective

Etymology

Origin of hypothermia

First recorded in 1885–90; hypo- + therm- + -ia

Compare meaning

How does hypothermia compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

• hypothermia vs. hyperthermia

Explanation

Hypothermia is when your body temperature gets dangerously low, so low that you could seriously hurt yourself or die. Ever heard of a polar bear plunge? During winter, people jump into the ocean to raise money for a charity. They don’t stay in there long, and if they did, they’d definitely get hypothermia because the water’s so cold. The word is a combination of the prefix hypo-, meaning “below,” and the Greek word thermē, translated as “heat.” When your body heat gets below what it should be, please put on a sweater or you’ll get hypothermia and maybe die.

Example Sentences

Hypothermia and frostbite on limbs are common, said Nastya, a paramedic with the Da Vinci Wolves brigade.

From Barron's • Feb. 16, 2026

Hypothermia can occur when a person's body temperature drops below 35C.

From BBC • Mar. 26, 2024

Hypothermia is another threat, especially for people who do not have access to shelter or heat.

From New York Times • Jan. 21, 2024

Hypothermia occurs when body temperature drops below normal, and can be classified in cattle as mild, moderate and severe, the statement said.

From Reuters • Jun. 21, 2023

Hypothermia is a gradual and insidious sort of trauma.

From "A Walk in the Woods" by Bill Bryson