Historical Examples

Illstarred heresiarch' In a Greek watercloset he breathed his last: euthanasia.

When I am too old to work and ready for euthanasia I shall have you come and talk me to death.

In August, 1900, came the euthanasia for which he had longed.

People did not deplore the dead warrior, but admired his euthanasia.

It was here that one enthusiast achieved a fisherman's euthanasia, for he dropped dead suddenly in the very act of playing a fish.

British Dictionary definitions for euthanasia Expand

the act of killing someone painlessly, esp to relieve suffering from an incurable illness Also called mercy killing

Word Origin

C17: via New Latin from Greek: easy death, from eu- + thanatos death

Word Origin and History for euthanasia Expand

c.1600, from Greek euthanasia "an easy or happy death," from eu- "good" (see eu-) + thanatos "death" (see thanatology). Sense of "legally sanctioned mercy killing" is first recorded in English 1869.

euthanasia in Medicine Expand

euthanasia euthanasia (y'th-n'zh, -zh-) n.

The act or practice of ending the life of an individual suffering from a terminal illness or an incurable condition, as by lethal injection or the suspension of extraordinary medical treatment.

A quiet, painless death.

euthanasia in Science Expand

euthanasia in Culture Expand

Painlessly putting someone to death usually someone with an incurable and painful disease; mercy killing.

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Euthanasia | Define Euthanasia at Dictionary.com