euthanasia
[ yoo-thuh-ney-zhuh, -zhee-uh, -zee-uh ]
/ ˌyu θəˈneɪ ʒə, -ʒi ə, -zi ə /
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noun
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.
painless death.
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Origin of euthanasia
OTHER WORDS FROM euthanasia
eu·tha·na·si·ast [yoo-thuh-ney-zee-ast], /ˌyu θəˈneɪ ziˌæst/, nouneu·tha·na·sic [yoo-thuh-ney-zik], /ˌyu θəˈneɪ zɪk/, adjectivepro·eu·tha·na·sia, adjectiveWords nearby euthanasia
eutectic, eutectic alloy, eutectoid, eutelegenesis, Euterpe, euthanasia, euthanize, euthenics, eutherian, euthermic, euthymia
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2021
Example sentences from the Web for euthanasia
British Dictionary definitions for euthanasia
euthanasia
/ (ˌjuːθəˈneɪzɪə) /
noun
the act of killing someone painlessly, esp to relieve suffering from an incurable illnessAlso called: mercy killing
Word Origin for euthanasia
C17: via New Latin from Greek: easy death, from eu- + thanatos death
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
Medical definitions for euthanasia
euthanasia
[ yōō′thə-nā′zhə ]
n.
The act or practice of ending the life of an individual suffering from a terminal illness or an incurable condition, as by lethal injection or the suspension of extraordinary medical treatment.
A quiet, painless death.
The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Scientific definitions for euthanasia
euthanasia
[ yōō′thə-nā′zhə ]
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.
The American Heritage® Science Dictionary
Copyright © 2011. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
Cultural definitions for euthanasia
euthanasia
[ (yooh-thuh-nay-zhuh) ]
Painlessly putting someone to death — usually someone with an incurable and painful disease; mercy killing.
notes for euthanasia
Proposals to make euthanasia legal in the United States have inspired heated debate.
The New Dictionary of Cultural Literacy, Third Edition
Copyright © 2005 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.