noun

analgesia

an-uhl-JEE-zee-uh

Analgesia (noun) means Relief from pain, or the state of not feeling pain, especially as produced by a drug or medical technique. Example: “The block provided good analgesia for the first twelve hours.”

noun

medical Relief from pain, or the state of not feeling pain, especially as produced by a drug or medical technique.

"The block provided good analgesia for the first twelve hours."

"Adequate analgesia after surgery helps patients move sooner."

medical An inability to feel pain caused by injury or disease affecting the nerves.

"The patient presented with analgesia over the affected dermatome."

How to use analgesia

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishNot feeling pain, usually because a drug has stopped it.

When to use it

Clinical; in ordinary conversation say 'pain relief'.

Memory tip

Note the spelling: analgesia has no 'ae' in the middle, unlike anaesthesia.

Trace the full origin ↓

Easily confused with

anaesthesia analgesic → amnesia →

Common pairings

postoperative analgesia adequate analgesia epidural analgesia provide analgesia

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The block provided good _____ for the first twelve hours.

Etymology

From Greek analgēsia 'painlessness', from an- 'without' and algos 'pain'.

Origin: Greek

Synonyms

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pain relief pain control loss of pain sensation

Rhymes for analgesia

IA Odia aria Asia India Syria Bahia mania Latvia acacia Zambia Russia

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Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between analgesia and anaesthesia?

Analgesia removes pain while leaving other sensations and consciousness intact, so you may still feel touch and pressure. Anaesthesia is broader and removes sensation altogether in a region, or removes consciousness entirely in the case of general anaesthesia.

What is an analgesic?

An analgesic is a drug that produces analgesia, in other words a painkiller. Paracetamol, ibuprofen and morphine are all analgesics, working by different mechanisms and at different strengths.

How do you pronounce analgesia?

It has five syllables: an-uhl-JEE-zee-uh, with the stress on the third. The 'g' is soft, as in 'gee'.

What is the meaning of analgesia?

"analgesia" (noun) means relief from pain, or the state of not feeling pain, especially as produced by a drug or medical technique.