# ventilator

/ˈvɛnəˌɫeɪtɝ/ (US) · /vˈɛntɪlˌeɪtɐ/ (UK) · CEFR C1 · Noun

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/ventilator
Updated: 2026-05-18

## Definition

a machine that helps a person breathe when they cannot do it on their own. It is often used in hospitals for patients with serious breathing problems.

For teachers: a mechanical device that assists or replaces spontaneous breathing by moving air into and out of the lungs. Often used in clinical contexts to describe life-support equipment.

## Examples

- The patient is on a ventilator to help him breathe.
- Doctors placed the patient on a ventilator after his lungs failed to respond to oxygen therapy.
- Modern intensive care units are equipped with advanced ventilators that can adjust pressure levels to protect the delicate alveoli in a patient's lungs during recovery.

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