apnea

especially British, ap·noe·a

[ap-nee-uh]

noun

Pathology.

1. a temporary suspension of breathing, occurring in some newborns and adults during sleep.

2. asphyxia; suffocation.

apnea

1. The temporary absence or cessation of breathing.

Other Word Forms

• apneic adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of apnea¹

First recorded in 1710–20; from New Latin apnoea, from Greek ápnoia, from ápno(os) “breathless” (from a- a- ⁶ + pno-, variant stem of pneîn “to breathe” + -os, adjective suffix) + -ia -ia

Example Sentences

Orthopaedic surgeons now prescribe them to help patients lose weight before knee surgery, while chest physicians use them for those with sleep apnea, a disorder that blocks the airway during sleep.

Read more on BBC

A thicker neck is a known risk factor for obstructive sleep apnea, a condition in which breathing repeatedly stops and starts during sleep.

Read more on Science Daily

New devices can screen for sleep apnea, measure blood pressure without arm cuffs and detect early signs of illness.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

He also suffered multiple health issues — neurogenerative disorder, obstructive sleep apnea, chronic respiratory failure and chronic kidney disease — before his death.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

It’s possible for babies to not cough and instead suffer from apnea — pauses in breathing that threaten their lives, according to the CDC.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• hiatus 
• intermission 
• interval 
• layoff 
• lull 
• pause 
• recess 
• respite 
• rest 
• suspension 
• time off