anoxia

[an-ok-see-uh, uh-nok-]

noun

1. Biology.,  the absence of oxygen, as in an organic environment.

   the simulation of aquatic anoxia in the laboratory.

2. Pathology.,  the absence or near absence of oxygen in the body tissues; severe hypoxia.

   Metabolism came to an irreversible standstill during prolonged anoxia.

anoxia

/ ænˈɒksɪə /

noun

1. lack or absence of oxygen

2. a deficiency of oxygen in tissues and organs Compare hypoxia

Other Word Forms

• anoxic adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of anoxia¹

First recorded in 1930–35; an- ¹ + ox(ygen) + -ia

Word History and Origins

Origin of anoxia¹

C20: from _an- + _ox ( _ygen ) + _-ia

Example Sentences

This summer, workers removed large masses of algae from the lagoon to help prevent anoxia.

Read more on Science Magazine

He reassured jurors that many of the medical terms they have heard during the trial — hypoxia, asphyxia, anoxia — all mean essentially the same thing, “a drastically low level of oxygen.”

Read more on New York Times

In the case of the Cambrian it was periods of anoxia of as-yet-unknown cause.

Read more on Economist

Scientists had previously suspected that anoxia, or a lack of oxygen, was responsible for destroying aquatic life.

Read more on Scientific American

Global warming, acid oceans, anoxia, not to mention a toxic atmosphere.

Read more on The Guardian