ventilator

American  

[ven-tl-ey-ter] / ˈvɛn tlˌeɪ tər /

noun

1. a person or thing that ventilates.

2. a contrivance or opening for replacing foul or stagnant air with fresh air.

3. Medicine/Medical. an apparatus to produce artificial respiration, moving air into and out of a patient’s lungs.

   The patient presented with signs of respiratory failure and was placed immediately on a ventilator.

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ventilator British  

/ ˈvɛntɪˌleɪtə /

noun

1. an opening or device, such as a fan, used to ventilate a room, building, etc

2. med a machine that maintains a flow of air into and out of the lungs of a patient who is unable to breathe normally

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Etymology

Origin of ventilator

First recorded in 1735–45; ventilat(e) + -or ²

Compare meaning

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

• ventilator vs. respirator

Example Sentences

His cough became so severe he had to send a WhatsApp message to tell her he was being put on a ventilator.

From BBC • Mar. 5, 2026

Li, who suffers from a genetic degenerative condition that progressively weakens muscles, relies on a ventilator permanently connected to his windpipe to breathe, but grows celery with the help of his 62-year-old mother.

From Barron's • Jan. 29, 2026

They may require oxygen or intravenous fluid or even be put on a ventilator to help them breathe, according to the CDC.

From Los Angeles Times • Oct. 30, 2025

Yusuf's family called on the trust to ensure families were told that when their children were on a ventilator they may still be able to hear them, and should be encouraged to interact with them.

From BBC • Jul. 31, 2025

He was shivering and he wanted above all to shove the books up through the ventilator again, but he knew he could not face Beatty again.

From "Fahrenheit 451" by Ray Bradbury

Related Words

• fireplace
• flue
• furnace
• hearth
• pipe
• stack
• vent