sleep apnea

noun

: apnea that recurs during sleep and is caused especially by obstruction of the airway or a disturbance in the brain's respiratory center

Examples of sleep apnea in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Participants were either obese or overweight and had an additional related health issue such as obstructive sleep apnea or heart disease. USA TODAY, 5 Dec. 2024 Melissa, busy perfecting a batch of pesto, shrugs it off as sleep apnea, but after Caleb tells her there is no pulse, she’s forced to decide how to proceed. Ile-Ife Okantah, Vulture, 4 Dec. 2024 Hormonal shifts during menopause may increase the risk of sleep disorders like obstructive sleep apnea in women. Maggie O'Neill, Verywell Health, 24 Oct. 2024 And not all cases of sleep apnea need to be treated. Brenda Goodman, CNN, 17 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for sleep apnea 

Word History

First Known Use

1975, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of sleep apnea was in 1975

Dictionary Entries Near sleep apnea

Cite this Entry

“Sleep apnea.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sleep%20apnea. Accessed 18 Dec. 2024.

Medical Definition

sleep apnea

noun
: brief periods of recurrent cessation of breathing during sleep that is caused especially by obstruction of the airway or a disturbance in the brain's respiratory center and is associated especially with excessive daytime sleepiness

More from Merriam-Webster on sleep apnea

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!