# hypoxia

/haɪˈpɑksiə/ (US) · /haɪpˈɒksiə/ (UK) · CEFR C1 · Noun

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/hypoxia
Updated: 2026-05-20

## Definition

a medical condition where your body or a part of it does not get enough oxygen. This can cause your cells to stop working properly and can be very dangerous.

For teachers: a pathological state in which an organ or tissue is deprived of adequate oxygen supply at the cellular level. This can lead to cellular dysfunction and, if severe, to necrosis.

## Examples

- The doctor explained that the patient's hypoxia was caused by a lung infection.
- High-altitude climbers often experience hypoxia because the air contains less oxygen than at sea level.
- Prolonged hypoxia in the brain can lead to irreversible neurological damage, making early detection and oxygen therapy critical in emergency medicine.

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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.