apnea: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1Technical/Medical, becoming more common in general use.
Quick answer
What does “apnea” mean?
A temporary cessation of breathing, especially during sleep.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A temporary cessation of breathing, especially during sleep.
In medical contexts, refers to repeated, involuntary interruptions of normal breathing, often for 10 seconds or more. More generally, can describe any pause or suspension of respiration.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Spelling: UK English predominantly uses 'apnoea' (based on Greek origin 'pnoe'), while US English uses 'apnea'. Pronunciation differs accordingly.
Connotations
Identical. Both refer to the same medical condition.
Frequency
The term is equally frequent in both variants within medical contexts. In everyday conversation, the US spelling 'apnea' is becoming more globally recognised due to media.
Grammar
How to Use “apnea” in a Sentence
suffer from + apneabe diagnosed with + apneaapnea + occursapnea + causes + [noun]treat + apnea + with + [noun]Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “apnea” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The infant would periodically apnoeate, requiring close monitoring.
- Patients with this condition may apnoeate dozens of times an hour.
American English
- The patient was observed to apnea during the sleep study.
- Premature babies sometimes apnea and need stimulation to breathe.
adverb
British English
- The breathing stopped apnoeically.
American English
- He breathed apneically, with dangerous pauses.
adjective
British English
- He underwent an apnoeic episode lasting 30 seconds.
- The apnoeic patient was fitted with a CPAP machine.
American English
- The sleep study recorded multiple apneic events.
- An apneic spell can cause a drop in blood oxygen.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare, except in insurance or healthcare industries.
Academic
Common in medical, biological, and sleep science literature.
Everyday
Increasingly used when discussing health, sleep quality, and snoring.
Technical
The primary register. Used with precise classifications (obstructive, central, mixed) and measurements (apnea-hypopnea index, AHI).
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “apnea”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “apnea”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “apnea”
- Mispronouncing the 'p' as silent (/əˈniː.ə/).
- Misspelling as 'apnia' or 'apenea'.
- Using it as a verb (e.g., 'He apneas at night').
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No. Apnea is an involuntary cessation of breathing, often during sleep. Holding your breath is a voluntary, conscious action.
Apnea is a complete or near-complete pause in breathing. Hypopnea is a partial reduction in airflow, typically a 30-50% decrease for 10 seconds or more.
In both UK and US English, the 'p' is pronounced. Common pronunciations are /æpˈniː.ə/ (ap-NEE-uh) in the UK and often /ˈæp.ni.ə/ (AP-nee-uh) in the US.
Yes, though less common. 'Sleep apnea' is the most frequent type, but apnea can occur in other situations, such as in premature infants (apnea of prematurity) or as a symptom of certain neurological conditions.
A temporary cessation of breathing, especially during sleep.
Apnea is usually technical/medical, becoming more common in general use. in register.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “None. It is a technical term not used idiomatically.”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: 'AP' (a pause) in your 'NEA' (near) breathing. Or: 'A Pause, No EAir'.
Conceptual Metaphor
BREATHING IS A CONTINUOUS FLOW; APNEA IS AN UNWANTED INTERRUPTION IN THAT FLOW.
Practice
Quiz
Which of the following best describes 'apnea'?