sedation
Americannoun
-
the calming of mental excitement or abatement of physiological function, especially by the administration of a drug.
-
the state so induced.
noun
-
a state of calm or reduced nervous activity
-
the administration of a sedative
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Etymology
Origin of sedation
First recorded in 1535–45; from Latin sēdātiōn-, stem of sēdātiō; equivalent to sedate + -ion
Explanation
Sedation is either the state of being relaxed or sleepy because of a drug, or the act of drugging someone with a sedative. Sedatives are drugs that people take to relax or fall asleep, and sedation has two related meanings. Sedation can be the condition of someone who has taken a sedative. You're in a state of sedation if you're relaxed, mellow, sleepy, or low-key because of a drug. Also, sedation can be the action of doctors or nurses in calming someone through drugs. A nurse may put a patient under sedation if they can't sleep. Sedation is an act of drugging.
Vocabulary lists containing sedation
Ugly
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Return to Sender
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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.
See Examples For:
Researchers also tracked nausea, vomiting, sedation levels, and length of hospital stay.
From Science Daily ● May 20, 2026
The family of Adichie had accused the hospital of negligence, alleging that medics denied oxygen to her son and administered excessive sedation, which they say led to cardiac arrest.
From BBC ● Mar. 4, 2026
With sedation, that could add £700 to a bill.
From BBC ● Jan. 12, 2026
These adverse events included dizziness, sedation, and nausea, with increases described as moderate to large.
From Science Daily ● Dec. 30, 2025
Only in two ways could I account for it: sedation and seasickness.
From "Life of Pi" by Yann Martel
Maybe we are not so interested in perfection and its sedations after all.
From New York Times ● Nov. 11, 2021
For example, she says, using general anesthesia for a colonoscopy when lesser sedations are sufficient can add thousands of dollars to a patient’s bill.
From BusinessWeek ● Nov. 20, 2012
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.
