respiratory

[res-per-uh-tawr-ee, -tohr-ee, ri-spahyuhr-uh-]

adjective

1. pertaining to or serving for respiration.

   respiratory disease.

respiratory

/ -trɪ, ˈrɛspərətərɪ, ˌrɛspəˈreɪʃənəl /

adjective

1. of, relating to, or affecting respiration or the organs used in respiration

Word History and Origins

Origin of respiratory¹

1780–90; < Late Latin respīrātōrius, equivalent to Latin respīrā ( re ) to respire + -tōrius -tory ¹

Example Sentences

As rising air pollution fuels persistent coughs, they are increasingly misused for routine respiratory infections.

From BBC

But it means many people with conditions such as diabetes, heart disease, respiratory illneses, asthma and severe mental illness will no longer qualify.

From BBC

At Mount SAC, for instance, classrooms have high-tech mannequins that can be programmed to blink, shriek and simulate a variety of medical conditions, including heart attacks, bleeding, respiratory failure — even giving birth.

From Los Angeles Times

But when thousands of students arrive on campus they bring with them a cocktail of respiratory viruses.

From BBC

Washing hands regularly and using and disposing tissues in bins can reduce the spread of this and other respiratory illnesses.

From BBC