# asphyxiation

/ɐsfˌɪksɪˈeɪʃən/ (UK) · CEFR C1 · Noun

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/asphyxiation
Updated: 2026-10-15

## Definition

not being able to breathe, so your body does not get enough air. It can make you faint or die.

For teachers: severe oxygen deprivation resulting from impaired or blocked breathing, often leading to unconsciousness or death.

## Examples

- Asphyxiation happens when someone cannot breathe for too long.
- The lifeguard warned that holding your breath too long underwater can lead to asphyxiation.
- The report attributed the miner's death to asphyxiation after toxic gases displaced oxygen in the sealed tunnel.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.