noun

anesthesia

/ˌænəsˈθiːʒə/ · say it: an·uh·STEE·zhuh

induced loss of sensation or consciousness for procedures

In Medicine & Health

In more detail

1. (noun) a substance or treatment that makes you unable to feel pain during a medical operation

2. (noun) the condition of being unable to feel pain or sensation

Examples

1. The patient was given anesthesia before the surgery so they would not feel pain.
2. The dentist injected local anesthesia into my gum before filling the tooth.

How to use anesthesia

Anesthesia refers both to the medical substance or procedure that induces insensitivity to pain and to the resulting state itself. It is a standard, clinical term used in medical contexts and by healthcare professionals. Local anesthesia numbs a specific area, while general anesthesia renders the patient unconscious. The term is neutral and formal in register.

Common phrases

local anesthesia
general anesthesia
under anesthesia
administer anesthesia
anesthesia wore off

Synonyms

anesthetic · pain relief · numbing · sedation

Word family

anesthetic (noun/adjective) · anesthetize (verb) · anesthesiologist (noun) · anesthetist (noun)

A common mistake

Learners sometimes confuse anesthesia (the state or substance) with anesthetic (the drug or agent itself), or misspell it as 'anisthesia' or 'anesthesia' with variant British spelling 'anaesthesia'—both are correct depending on region.

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