euthanasia

[yoo-thuh-ney-zhuh, -zhee-uh, -zee-uh]

noun

1. Also called mercy killing. the act of putting to death painlessly or allowing to die, as by withholding extreme medical measures, a person or animal suffering from an incurable, especially a painful, disease or condition.

2. painless death.

euthanasia

/ ˌjuːθəˈneɪzɪə /

noun

1. Also called: mercy killing. the act of killing someone painlessly, esp to relieve suffering from an incurable illness

euthanasia

1. The act or practice of painlessly ending the life of an animal or a willing individual who has a terminal illness or incurable condition, as by giving a lethal drug.

euthanasia

1. Painlessly putting someone to death — usually someone with an incurable and painful disease; mercy killing.

Proposals to make euthanasia legal in the United States have inspired heated debate.

Other Word Forms

• euthanasiast noun
• euthanasic adjective
• proeuthanasia adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of euthanasia¹

1640–50; < New Latin < Greek euthanasía an easy death, equivalent to eu- eu- + thánat ( os ) death + -ia -y ³

Word History and Origins

Origin of euthanasia¹

C17: via New Latin from Greek: easy death, from _eu- + thanatos death

Example Sentences

"Our only options at this point are to either relocate the whales or face the devastating decision of euthanasia," a statement said.

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“I researched that euthanasia story with the urgency of someone who could have been a victim,” she writes.

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While the business stated that its votes would uphold church teaching on abortion, it made no reference to other issues involving human life, such as euthanasia, in vitro fertilization, embryonic stem-cell use, or human cloning.

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Those wanting to end their life must request euthanasia personally and in writing, provided they are a Uruguayan citizen or a foreign resident, the law states.

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To assure universal peace and brotherhood, he orders up a compassionate euthanasia of clingers who refuse to give up their old beliefs and threaten the new religion of man worshiping man.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• assisted dying