If the blood supply is contaminated, diseases such as hepatitis and AIDS can be passed to someone who receives a blood transfusion.
First recorded in 1875–80
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
After receiving a life-saving blood transfusion last week, her blood values dropped again Saturday, the Ojai Raptor Center, which is treating Jackie, said in a social media post.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 28, 2026
Big Bear eagle Jackie is in critical condition after a blood transfusion.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 24, 2026
Waldorf had spelled out the catch-22 in her journal that morning: “If I need a blood transfusion and it stabilizes my condition, they cannot induce. If my temp continues to spike then they can induce.”
From Salon ● May 27, 2026
Having returned to the USA, Vonn explained she had a six-hour reconstructive operation on Wednesday, but also needed a blood transfusion as she had "low haemoglobin due to all the blood loss and surgeries".
From BBC ● Feb. 23, 2026
Dr. Musoke abandoned his efforts to give his patient a blood transfusion for fear that the patient would bleed to death out of the small hole in his arm.
From "The Hot Zone" by Richard Preston
The Brigham team weighed the surgeons' discarded sponges to measure the patient's blood loss and thus make sure that he got enough, not too much, transfusion blood.
From Time Magazine Archive
An estimated 10% of U.S. transfusion blood is drained from paid donors by commercial supply houses, which sell the blood for profit.
From Time Magazine Archive
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
