ventilator

American  

[ven-tl-ey-ter] / ˈvɛn tlˌeɪ tər /

noun

1. a person or thing that ventilates.

2. a contrivance or opening for replacing foul or stagnant air with fresh air.

3. Medicine/Medical. an apparatus to produce artificial respiration, moving air into and out of a patient’s lungs.

   The patient presented with signs of respiratory failure and was placed immediately on a ventilator.

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ventilator British  

/ ˈvɛntɪˌleɪtə /

noun

1. an opening or device, such as a fan, used to ventilate a room, building, etc

2. med a machine that maintains a flow of air into and out of the lungs of a patient who is unable to breathe normally

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Etymology

Origin of ventilator

First recorded in 1735–45; ventilat(e) + -or ²

Compare meaning

How does ventilator compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

• ventilator vs. respirator

Example Sentences

Li, who suffers from a genetic degenerative condition that progressively weakens muscles, relies on a ventilator permanently connected to his windpipe to breathe, but grows celery with the help of his 62-year-old mother.

From Barron's • Jan. 29, 2026

They may require oxygen or intravenous fluid or even be put on a ventilator to help them breathe, according to the CDC.

From Los Angeles Times • Oct. 30, 2025

They are costumed as though you asked a coma patient, freshly awake after 20 years on the ventilator, to sketch these ladies from memory.

From Salon • Jul. 15, 2025

"I saw him on the ventilator, his chest going up and down as he was breathing, and it was like 'Get up! Open your eyes'."

From BBC • Jun. 27, 2025

I try to speak but can’t because of the ventilator.

From "Five Feet Apart" by Rachael Lippincott

Related Words

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