Definition

Describing a state where a person is not breathing or has stopped breathing.

Example

The patient was apneic and required immediate medical attention.

Conversation

I read that some sleep disorders can leave people feeling apneic during the night.

Really? That sounds scary! What happens then?

They might wake up gasping for air, which must be really distressing.

Wow, I can’t imagine how frightening that would be.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Root Explanation

Apneic is derived from "a-" (meaning without) and "pnoia" (from Greek "pnoia", meaning breath). The term describes a state of being without breath, typically referring to a condition where breathing is temporarily suspended.

Memory Tip

Think of 'without' ('a-') and 'breath' ('pnoia') to remember that 'apneic' refers to a state of not breathing.

Visually Confused Words