hyperthermia

American  

[hahy-per-thur-mee-uh] / ˌhaɪ pərˈθɜr mi ə /

Also hyperthermy

noun

1. Pathology. abnormally high fever.

2. Medicine/Medical. treatment of disease by the induction of fever, as by the injection of foreign protein or the application of heat.

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hyperthermia British  

/ ˌhaɪpəˈθɜːmɪ, ˌhaɪpəˈθɜːmɪə /

noun

1. pathol variants of hyperpyrexia

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hyperthermia Scientific  

/ hī′pər-thûr′mē-ə /

1. An abnormally high body temperature, usually resulting from infection, certain drugs and medications, or head injury. Hyperthermia is sometimes created intentionally to treat diseases, especially some cancers.

2. Compare hypothermia

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Other Word Forms

• hyperthermal adjective

Etymology

Origin of hyperthermia

From New Latin, dating back to 1885–90; hyper-, therm-, -ia

Compare meaning

How does hyperthermia compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

• hypothermia vs. hyperthermia

Example Sentences

Mason had hyperthermia but equipment wasn't sourced to heat him up.

From BBC • Oct. 27, 2025

The discovery that some muscle proteins act as a temperature sensor may lead to a new hyperthermia strategy, in which skeletal muscle performance is improved by warming up the muscle.

From Science Daily • Oct. 25, 2023

The death certificate says he died of hyperthermia.

From Los Angeles Times • Jul. 29, 2023

This story has been corrected to show the person who died in Portland, Oregon, died of hypothermia, not hyperthermia.

From Seattle Times • Feb. 25, 2023

We chat about hyperthermia and electrolytes until he is ready to order some finicky combination like soup of the day, garden salad, and a side of grits.

From "Nickel and Dimed: On (Not) Getting By in America" by Barbara Ehrenreich