blood transfusion
noun
the injection of blood from one person or animal into the bloodstream of another.
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blood transfusion
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transfusion, blood
transfusion, bloodThe injection of blood received from a donor into the bloodstream of another individual having a compatible blood type. A person may need a blood transfusion if a great deal of blood has been lost through surgery or trauma.
blood transfusion
Americannoun
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blood transfusions
plural
transfusion, blood
Cultural
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If the blood supply is contaminated, diseases such as hepatitis and AIDS can be passed to someone who receives a blood transfusion.
Other Word Forms
Noun Inflected Forms
Etymology
Origin of blood transfusion
First recorded in 1875–80
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:
Tests revealed she had severe anemia, leading to a blood transfusion from another eagle.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 10, 2026
She has undergone repeated physical examinations, comprehensive blood work, advanced imaging, toxicology screening and a blood transfusion, he said.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 2, 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
She got one blood transfusion after another because her kidneys could no longer filter the toxins from her blood, leaving her nauseated from the poison of her own body.
From "The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks" by Rebecca Skloot
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.
