euthanasia

[ yoo-thuh-ney-zhuh, -zhee-uh, -zee-uh ]
/ ˌyu θəˈneɪ ʒə, -ʒi ə, -zi ə /
SEE SYNONYMS FOR euthanasia ON THESAURUS.COM

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.

QUIZZES

DO YOU KNOW THIS VOCABULARY FROM "THE HANDMAID'S TALE"?

"The Handmaid's Tale" was required reading for many of us in school. Everyone else has probably watched the very popular and addictive TV show. Do you remember this vocabulary from the book, and do you know what these terms mean?
Question 1 of 10
decorum
the act of or need for making up one's mind.
dignified propriety of behavior, speech, dress, etc.
a company of singers, especially an organized group employed in church service.
TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

Origin of euthanasia

1640–50; < New Latin < Greek euthanasía an easy death, equivalent to eu- eu- + thánat(os) death + -ia -y3

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, adjective

Words 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. 2020

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.