Definition

Having little or no oxygen present, which can affect living organisms and environments.

Example

The fish in the lake struggled to survive in the anoxic waters where oxygen levels were extremely low.

Conversation

Have you heard about the anoxic conditions in some lakes lately?

Yeah, it’s really concerning how it affects the fish.

I read that it can lead to massive die-offs due to lack of oxygen.

That's why we need to be more careful about pollution in our waters.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Root Explanation

Anoxic is formed from "an-" (meaning without) and "oxia" (from Greek "oxus", meaning sharp or acid, which relates to oxygen). The word describes a condition that is without oxygen.

Memory Tip

Think of 'an-' meaning without, and 'oxia' relating to oxygen — so anoxic means a state without oxygen.

Visually Confused Words