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inhalation

American  
[in-huh-ley-shuhn] / ˌɪn həˈleɪ ʃən /

noun

  1. an act or instance of inhaling.

  2. an inhalant.

inhalation British  
/ ˌɪnhəˈleɪʃən /

noun

  1. the act of inhaling; breathing in of air or other vapours

  2. an inhalant formulation

"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
inhalation Scientific  
/ ĭn′hə-lā′shən /

  1. The act of taking in breath. Inhalation results from the negative pressure in the lungs caused by contraction of the diaphragm, which causes it to move downwards and to expand the chest cavity. The resulting flow of air into the lungs restores a pressure equal to that of the atmosphere.

  2. Also called inspiration

  3. Compare exhalation

Etymology

Origin of inhalation

First recorded in 1615–25; inhale + -ation

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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.

Bouchard said 30 police officers were taken to the hospital for smoke inhalation as the building was "engulfed" in flames.

From BBC • Mar. 12, 2026

Some 2,700 people are diagnosed with the aggressive cancer in the UK each year, with the principal cause being the inhalation of asbestos fibres.

From BBC • Mar. 11, 2026

He was hospitalized and put into an induced coma due to smoke inhalation.

From Los Angeles Times • Jan. 19, 2026

The research team is continuing its work to better understand how flu spreads through inhalation and under what conditions that transmission is most likely.

From Science Daily • Jan. 11, 2026

Smoke inhalation was a concern, but with the windows open there was some air circulation.

From "Newjack: Guarding Sing Sing" by Ted Conover

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.