anoxic

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

adjective

1. containing no oxygen; anaerobic.

   Methanogens are microorganisms that can occur in anoxic sediments, hydrothermal vents, and the intestinal tracts of animals.

2. caused by the absence of oxygen.

   The malpractice suit alleges that the patient’s anoxic brain injury was caused by excessive and improperly dosed medications.

Word History and Origins

Origin of anoxic¹

First recorded in 1895–1900; anox(ia) ( def. ) + -ic ( def. )

Example Sentences

"And so it has been gradually getting more and more anoxic, especially recently, since humans dumped a bunch of fertilizer in it over the last century."

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The American Veterinary Medical Association in 2020 euthanasia guidelines wrote nitrogen hypoxia is not an acceptable euthanasia method for most mammals because the anoxic environment “is distressing.”

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The American Veterinary Medical Association wrote in 2020 euthanasia guidelines that nitrogen hypoxia is not an acceptable euthanasia method for most mammals because the anoxic environment “is distressing.”

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For instance, the authors are quite interested to learn whether these organisms were adapted to oxygenated or anoxic environments.

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Sulfate reduction usually occurs in anoxic parts of the environment.

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