hypoxia
Americannoun
-
Biology. a very low level of oxygen, as in an organic environment.
The fish have developed a tolerance to the hypoxia of the swamp.
-
Pathology. an abnormally low amount of oxygen in the body tissues.
Premature newborns are routinely placed in incubators to treat or prevent hypoxia.
noun
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of hypoxia
First recorded in 1940–45; hyp- ( def. ) + oxy- 2 ( def. ) + -ia ( def. )
Compare meaning
How does hypoxia compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:
Explanation
When a patient has hypoxia, some area of their body doesn't get enough oxygen. One of the symptoms of hypoxia is discolored skin, which can appear either bluish or bright red. There are many causes of hypoxia, which can affect either the entire body or just specific organs. Premature babies frequently suffer from hypoxia because their lungs are underdeveloped, and both mountain climbers and scuba divers are also at risk of developing hypoxia. When it occurs at high altitudes, hypoxia is called "altitude sickness." Hypoxia was coined in the mid-20th century, from the Greek hypo, "under," and oxygen.
Vocabulary lists containing hypoxia
National Nurses Week: Medical Branches and Conditions
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
This Week in Words: July 7 - 13, 2018
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
Into Thin Air
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
If the colon irrigation and hypoxia training don’t chill me out, I have a feeling the long nature walks and lake swimming might.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 2, 2026
The resulting hypoxia killed virtually all of the fish living there.
From Science Daily ● Jun. 18, 2026
“Emergency room doctors discovered the boy had extremely low blood sugar levels and suffered from hypoxia and constant seizures.”
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 2, 2025
Some researchers say xenon increases production of a protein called erythropoietin that fights hypoxia, a condition that occurs when the body can't get enough oxygen.
From BBC ● May 21, 2025
It can’t be stressed strongly enough, moreover, that Hall, Fischer, and the rest of us were forced to make such critical decisions while severely impaired with hypoxia.
From "Into Thin Air" by Jon Krakauer
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
