noun
euthanasia
yoo-thuh-NAY-zee-uh
noun
1
Deliberately ending a life, human or animal, to relieve suffering from an incurable condition.
"The vet recommended euthanasia to spare the dog further pain."
"Assisted dying laws vary hugely from country to country."
How to Use Euthanasia
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishEnding suffering by deliberately ending life, usually for medical reasons.
When to use it
A clinical, formal term; "put down" or "put to sleep" are the everyday equivalents for animals.
Common pairings
voluntary euthanasia
euthanasia laws
request euthanasia
Word Forms
euthanasias plural
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The vet recommended _____ to spare the dog further pain.
Etymology
From Greek eu- ("good") + thanatos ("death") — literally "a good death," first recorded in English in 1606.