sleep apnea

noun

: apnea that recurs during sleep and is caused especially by obstruction of the airway or a disturbance in the brain's respiratory center

Examples of sleep apnea in a Sentence

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Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Beyond being used to treat diabetes and obesity, it is approved to lower cardiovascular risk, slow kidney decline and treat fatty liver disease, with trial data piling up for sleep apnea and osteoarthritis. — Jacek Krywko, Scientific American, 2 Sep. 2026 This puts women at higher risk of sleep disorders like restless leg syndrome and sleep apnea, both of which increase the risk of health issues like heart disease and type 2 diabetes. — Helen Carefoot, Flow Space, 1 Sep. 2026 However, insurers are more likely to cover GLP-1 drugs when prescribed for Type 2 diabetes, sleep apnea or to reduce the risk of heart attack or stroke. — Ken Alltucker, USA Today, 28 Aug. 2026 The severe sleep apnea diagnosis that helps establish his medical need is also what excludes him from the discount program that would bring the cost within his reach. — Jackie Fortiér, Miami Herald, 25 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for sleep apnea

Word History

First Known Use

1975, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of sleep apnea was in 1975

Rhymes for sleep apnea

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Browse Nearby Words

sleep
sleep apnea
sleep around
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Cite this Entry

“Sleep apnea.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sleep%20apnea. Accessed 5 Sep. 2026.

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Medical Definition

sleep apnea

noun
: brief periods of recurrent cessation of breathing during sleep that is caused especially by obstruction of the airway or a disturbance in the brain's respiratory center and is associated especially with excessive daytime sleepiness

More from Merriam-Webster on sleep apnea

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about sleep apnea

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