euthanize

especially British, eu·than·a·tize
especially British, eu·tha·nise

[yoo-thuh-nahyz]

verb (used with object)

euthanized, euthanizing 

1. to subject to euthanasia.

   to euthanize injured animals.

euthanize

/ ˈjuːθəˌnaɪz, ˈjuːθəˌneɪz /

verb

1. (tr) to kill (a person or animal) painlessly, esp to relieve suffering from an incurable illness

Word History and Origins

Origin of euthanize¹

First recorded in 1960–65; euthan(asia) + -ize

Word History and Origins

Origin of euthanize¹

C20: back formation from _euthanasia

Example Sentences

There’s no magic formula for knowing when —or if — to euthanize a beloved pet, but preparation and trusting your gut can help smooth the way.

From Los Angeles Times

About two-thirds of the California sea lions that the center responds to will die in transport or during care, or have to be euthanized after an admission exam.

From Los Angeles Times

No one wants to think about the millions of laboratory rodents and the thousands of macaques and other primates that will be euthanized because the government has reneged on their support.

From Salon

The 3,500 cockfighting birds found throughout the course of the investigation were relinquished to animal care services and euthanized, said Francis Delapaz, spokesperson for the county Department of Public Health.

From Los Angeles Times

“I thought, ‘Oh, there would be a point where your life almost wasn’t worth living,’ and the thought of euthanizing someone who’s spouting adverts at you was darkly comic, but tragic, obviously.”

From Los Angeles Times

When To Use

What does euthanize mean?

Euthanize means to painlessly put a person or animal to death.The decision to euthanize a person is usually made because they have a painful, incurable disease or condition which will cause them to die slowly and in great pain. Where it is legal, the dying person must consent to being euthanized and only a doctor or other permitted person is legally able to end that person’s life.With animals, the decision is usually left to the animal’s owner, with a veterinarian or other qualified person actually ending the animal’s life. Animals are also usually euthanized because they are in great pain that cannot be relieved any other way.Euthanize is also written as euthanatize. In British English, the spellings euthanise and euthanatise are also used.Example: A veterinarian sometimes has to euthanize an animal when they will otherwise suffer a painful death.