euthanasia
noun
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Where does euthanasia come from?
Euthanasia is a mass noun (or noncount noun), that is, a noun used only in the singular form.
The word comes from the Greek euthanatos, which means “easy death.” In English, euthanasia has been used in exactly this sense since the early seventeenth century, when Francis Bacon described the phenomenon as “after the fashion and semblance of a kindly & pleasant sleepe.” Nowadays, the word usually refers to the means of attaining such a death.
Examples of euthanasia in a Sentence
Claire Thornton, USA TODAY, 24 Jan. 2025
The most intense side effect is death, both naturally and by euthanasia.
—Benedict Cosgrove, Newsweek, 19 Dec. 2024
Performing euthanasia on a person, meanwhile, is considered murder or manslaughter.
—Rob Picheta, CNN, 29 Nov. 2024
Around 369,000 animals experienced non-live outcomes—including euthanasia, death in care, and being lost in care—in the first half of 2024, a slight decrease of 5 percent compared to 2023.
—Dan Perry, Newsweek, 3 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for euthanasia 
Dictionary Entries Near euthanasia
Cite this Entry
“Euthanasia.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/euthanasia. Accessed 31 Jan. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
euthanasia
noun
called also mercy killing
Medical Definition
euthanasia
noun
called also mercy killing
Legal Definition
euthanasia
noun
called also mercy killing
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