respirator

American  

[res-puh-rey-ter] / ˈrɛs pəˌreɪ tər /

noun

1. a masklike device, usually of nonwoven fibrous materials, as fiberglass paper, wool felt, or polypropylene, worn over the mouth, or nose and mouth, to prevent the inhalation of noxious substances, pathogens, or the like.

   Respirators are essential protective equipment for healthcare providers during an outbreak.

2. Medicine/Medical. ventilator.

3. British. gas mask.

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respirator British  

/ ˈrɛspəˌreɪtə /

noun

1. an apparatus for providing long-term artificial respiration

2. Also called: gas mask.  a device worn over the mouth and nose to prevent inhalation of noxious fumes or to warm cold air before it is breathed

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Etymology

Origin of respirator

First recorded in 1835–40; from Latin respīrāt(us), past participle of respīrāre “to recover one's breath” + -or agent suffix; respire, -or ²

Compare meaning

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

• ventilator vs. respirator

Explanation

A respirator is a device you use to help you breathe, either for a medical reason or to filter out dust, gas, or anything else too nasty to inhale. Whether you're scraping lead paint off a wall or spray painting a car, you'll want to wear a respirator. Military members and police officers sometimes use respirators known as "gas masks" to protect themselves from fumes emitted during wars and riots. Some respirators simply purify the air that moves through them, while others, like those used in hospitals, provide oxygen. The Latin root of respirator is respirare, "breathe in and out."

Example Sentences

Li suffers from an incurable genetic disease that progressively weakens hismuscles, and he relies on an artificial respirator to survive.

From Barron's • Jan. 29, 2026

This reluctance to think outside the TB box has resulted in people resisting the sensible use of respirator masks in health care settings.

From Salon • Feb. 21, 2025

A surgical mask or cloth mask won’t cut it — health authorities agree that you should reach for an N95 or P-100 respirator with a tight seal.

From Los Angeles Times • Jan. 8, 2025

And for the rest of her life she was dependent on a wheelchair operated by a tongue-touch keypad, a respirator that delivered 13 breaths a minute and ultimately a voice-activated computer to write.

From New York Times • Feb. 9, 2024

This happened during the last phase, while he was on the respirator.

From "The Hot Zone" by Richard Preston