euthanasia

[ yoo-thuh-ney-zhuh, -zhee-uh, -zee-uh ]

noun

1. Also called mercy killing. the act of putting to death painlessly or allowing to die, as by withholding extreme medical measures, a person or animal suffering from an incurable, especially a painful, disease or condition.
2. painless death.

euthanasia

/ ˌjuːθəˈneɪzɪə /

noun

1. the act of killing someone painlessly, esp to relieve suffering from an incurable illness Also calledmercy killing

euthanasia

/ yo̅o̅′thə-nā′zhə /

1. The act or practice of painlessly ending the life of an animal or a willing individual who has a terminal illness or incurable condition, as by giving a lethal drug.

euthanasia

1. Painlessly putting someone to death — usually someone with an incurable and painful disease; mercy killing.

Notes

Proposals to make euthanasia legal in the United States have inspired heated debate.

Other Words From

• eu·tha·na·si·ast [yoo-th, uh, -, ney, -zee-ast], noun
• eu·tha·na·sic [yoo-th, uh, -, ney, -zik], adjective
• proeu·tha·nasia adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of euthanasia¹

1640–50; < New Latin < Greek euthanasía an easy death, equivalent to eu- eu- + thánat ( os ) death + -ia -y ³

Word History and Origins

Origin of euthanasia¹

C17: via New Latin from Greek: easy death, from eu- + thanatos death

Example Sentences

Pedro Almodóvar explores one friend helping another with a euthanasia decision in “The Room Next Door,” while writer-director Adam Elliot returns to the intergenerational friendship dynamic of his 2009 stop-motion film “Mary and Max” with “Snail.”

From Los Angeles Times

The jury supported both physician-assisted suicide, where the health professional prescribes lethal drugs for eligible patients to take themselves, and voluntary euthanasia, where a health professional administers the drugs to the patient.

From BBC

The Netherlands, for example, has legalised assisted suicide and euthanasia.

From BBC

Voluntary euthanasia is where a health professional administers the drugs to the patient.

From BBC

Euthanasia is illegal under English law and is considered manslaughter or murder.

From BBC

Related Words

• assisted dying