asthma

American  

[az-muh, as-] / ˈæz mə, ˈæs- /

noun

asthmas plural

1. Pathology. a paroxysmal, often allergic disorder of respiration, characterized by bronchospasm, wheezing, and difficulty in expiration, often accompanied by coughing and a feeling of constriction in the chest.

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asthma British  

/ ˈæsmə /

noun

1. a respiratory disorder, often of allergic origin, characterized by difficulty in breathing, wheezing, and a sense of constriction in the chest

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asthma Scientific  

/ ăz′mə /

1. A common inflammatory disease of the lungs characterized by episodic airway obstruction caused by extensive narrowing of the bronchi and bronchioles. The narrowing is caused by spasm of smooth muscle, edema of the mucosa, and the presence of mucus in the airway resulting from an immunologic reaction that can be induced by allergies, irritants, infection, stress, and other factors in a genetically predisposed individual. Common symptoms of asthma include wheezing, coughing, and shortness of breath.

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asthma Cultural  

1. A chronic disease of the respiratory system, characterized by sudden, recurring attacks of difficult breathing, wheezing, and coughing. During an attack, the bronchial tubes go into spasms, becoming narrower and less able to move air into the lungs. Various substances to which the sufferer has an allergy, such as animal hair, dust, pollen, or certain foods, can trigger an attack.

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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• asthmas
  plural

Etymology

Origin of asthma

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English, from Greek: “a panting,” akin to aázein “to breathe hard”; replacing Middle English asma, from Medieval Latin, from Greek ásthma

Explanation

Asthma is a respiratory condition that involves allergies and your lungs: people with asthma have trouble breathing at times. Asthma is a very common disorder that makes breathing difficult. An allergic reaction, too much exercise, or just being stressed out can bring on an asthma attack. When someone has an asthma attack, it's very hard for them to get a good breath of air. Fortunately, asthma is not usually a life-threatening disease, and people who are asthmatic are fine most of the time.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

asthma asthmas

Suffering from asthma and a chronic lung condition, 55-year-old Andrew is distressed, overheating and struggling to breathe or talk.

From BBC ● Jul. 10, 2026

NOx is a smog-forming pollutant that aggravates respiratory illnesses, especially asthma, forms acid rain and contributes to nutrient pollution in coastal waters.

From Barron's ● Jul. 9, 2026

The market for weight-loss drugs in the U.S. doesn’t function like a traditional pharmaceutical category, like asthma or Type 2 diabetes.

From MarketWatch ● Jul. 7, 2026

Under a heat dome, those pollutants can linger longer, leading to elevated Air Quality Index, or AQI, readings that may pose additional risks for people with asthma and other respiratory conditions.

From Salon ● Jul. 3, 2026

It was the day after that when Fuchsia kept going on and on about her asthma and about how she couldn’t breathe—and I was getting annoyed with her!

From "The Benefits of Being an Octopus" by Ann Braden

The EPA said that both times, the state recorded high levels of particulate matter, which can cause heart attacks, asthmas and chronic health conditions.

From Seattle Times ● Nov. 8, 2023

A great many contracted asthmas and other diseases of the lungs, by inhaling steam.

From The Monikins by Cooper, James Fenimore

A strong infusion of the herb is excellent in asthmas, and it may be made with sugar into a syrup which will keep all the year round.

From Herbal Simples Approved for Modern Uses of Cure by Fernie, William Thomas

Oh, ye! who pine, in London smoke immur'd, With spirits wearied, and with pains uncur'd, With all the catalogue of city evils, Colds, asthmas, rheumatisms, coughs, blue-devils!

From Poetic Sketches by Gent, Thomas

Oh! ye, who pine, in London smoke immured, With spirits wearied, and with pains uncured, With all the catalogue of city evils, Colds, asthmas, rheumatism, coughs, blue devils!

From Poems (1828) by Gent, Thomas