asthmatic: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1Formal, medical, descriptive
Quick answer
What does “asthmatic” mean?
Relating to or suffering from asthma, a medical condition causing breathing difficulties.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
Relating to or suffering from asthma, a medical condition causing breathing difficulties.
Having a breathing pattern that is laboured, wheezy, or reminiscent of asthma; can metaphorically describe something that proceeds in a fitful, uneven, or gasping manner.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant differences in meaning. Spelling and pronunciation are consistent.
Connotations
Identical medical/descriptive connotations. Both use the noun form ('an asthmatic') but with growing sensitivity towards person-first language (e.g., 'a person with asthma').
Frequency
Equally common in both varieties due to its technical medical nature.
Grammar
How to Use “asthmatic” in a Sentence
BE ~ (e.g., He is asthmatic)~ NOUN (e.g., an asthmatic wheeze)SUFFER FROM ~ (e.g., suffers from asthmatic episodes)Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “asthmatic” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- [No standard verb form]
American English
- [No standard verb form]
adverb
British English
- [No standard adverb form]
American English
- [No standard adverb form]
adjective
British English
- The old pump made an asthmatic groaning sound.
- She has been asthmatic since childhood.
American English
- The car's engine gave an asthmatic cough and died.
- He is severely asthmatic and carries an inhaler.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare, except in occupational health contexts (e.g., 'accommodations for asthmatic employees').
Academic
Common in medical, public health, and physiological research papers.
Everyday
Used to describe a known medical condition of a person or a laboured breathing sound.
Technical
Core term in pulmonology and allergology to describe patients, symptoms, or drug responses.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “asthmatic”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “asthmatic”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “asthmatic”
- Misspelling as 'asmatic' or 'asthmatick'.
- Incorrect pronunciation, omitting the 'th' sound (/æsˈmætɪk/ not /ˈæzmətɪk/).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
In strict medical terminology, it is accepted. In social contexts, person-first language ('a person with asthma') is often preferred as it emphasises the individual over the condition.
Yes, it can be used metaphorically to describe any object or process that makes a laboured, wheezing, or irregular sound or motion, like an old engine or a struggling organisation.
'Asthmatic' specifically relates to the medical condition of asthma. 'Wheezy' is a more general descriptive term for a whistling breathing sound, which can be caused by asthma but also by other conditions like bronchitis or a common cold.
In British English, it's a voiceless 'th' /θ/ as in 'thin'. In American English, it often becomes a voiced 'th' /ð/ as in 'this' (/æzˈmæt̬ɪk/). The following 'm' sound makes it subtle.
Relating to or suffering from asthma, a medical condition causing breathing difficulties.
Asthmatic is usually formal, medical, descriptive in register.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “[No common idioms specific to the word 'asthmatic']”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of 'ASthMATic' – the 'AS' makes you gasp for air, and 'MAT' is where you might lie down during an attack.
Conceptual Metaphor
IRREGULARITY/OBSTRUCTION IS ASTHMATIC (e.g., 'the asthmatic progress of the negotiations').
Practice
Quiz
In which context is 'asthmatic' used metaphorically?