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Synonyms

artificial respiration

American  

noun

  1. the stimulation of natural respiratory functions in persons whose breathing has failed or in newborn infants by artificially forcing air into and out of the lungs.


artificial respiration British  

noun

  1. any of various methods of restarting breathing after it has stopped, by manual rhythmic pressure on the chest, mouth-to-mouth breathing, etc

  2. any method of maintaining respiration artificially, as by use of an iron lung

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of artificial respiration

First recorded in 1850–55

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.

See Examples For:

There is no treatment; doctors can offer only supportive care, such as hydration, artificial respiration or dialysis.

From Salon ● May 9, 2026

Dr Abu Saada said the babies needed intensive care, life support equipment and artificial respiration.

From BBC ● Nov. 11, 2023

Soon, the five — who were between a day and a month old — were taken to the intensive-care unit, where the three gravest cases were put on artificial respiration machines.

From New York Times ● Jan. 30, 2020

He removed a blood clot from the wound and, straddling the president’s body, began to administer a crude form of artificial respiration, which he said revived Lincoln.

From Washington Post ● Apr. 10, 2015

Another experiment was this—opening the windpipe of a poisoned mule after the heart stopped, inserting a pair of bellows, and starting artificial respiration.

From The Pathless Trail by Arthur O. (Arthur Olney) Friel

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