euthanasia
Americannoun
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Also called mercy killing. the act of putting to death painlessly or allowing to die, as by withholding extreme medical measures, a person or animal suffering from an incurable, especially a painful, disease or condition.
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painless death.
noun
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Proposals to make euthanasia legal in the United States have inspired heated debate.
Other Word Forms
- euthanasiast noun
- euthanasic adjective
- proeuthanasia adjective
Etymology
Origin of euthanasia
1640–50; < New Latin < Greek euthanasía an easy death, equivalent to eu- eu- + thánat ( os ) death + -ia -y 3
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Spain is one of a handful of European countries, including the Netherlands, Belgium and Luxembourg, that have passed laws allowing euthanasia to be carried out by physicians.
From BBC
A Spanish woman who has conducted a long legal battle with her father for the right to end her life is due to die by euthanasia on Thursday.
From BBC
Alberta has proposed a bill that would limit the use of medically assisted dying - also known as voluntary euthanasia - in the Canadian province solely to end-of-life circumstances.
From BBC
This is the first instance of court-approved passive euthanasia - the act of withdrawing or withholding life-sustaining treatment - in India.
From BBC
As of Monday, three dogs at the shelter with stress-related concerns were listed for euthanasia, Ramirez said, though she clarified that euthanasia rates had not gone up in recent weeks due to the isolation.
From Los Angeles Times
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
