euthanasia
noun
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Where does euthanasia come from?
Euthanasia is a mass noun (or noncount noun), that is, a noun used only in the singular form.
The word comes from the Greek euthanatos, which means “easy death.” In English, euthanasia has been used in exactly this sense since the early seventeenth century, when Francis Bacon described the phenomenon as “after the fashion and semblance of a kindly & pleasant sleepe.” Nowadays, the word usually refers to the means of attaining such a death.
Examples of euthanasia in a Sentence
News Release, San Diego Union-Tribune, 24 Dec. 2025
The ranch houses donkeys, horses, goats, pigs, chickens and elderly cats who would otherwise face euthanasia.
—Melissa Ruggieri, USA Today, 10 Dec. 2025
Even when outcomes improve over the long term, the most fragile cats are still most at risk—kittens under five months account for 65 percent of all cat non-live outcomes including euthanasia and death-in-care.
—Alice Gibbs, MSNBC Newsweek, 10 Dec. 2025
Other duties include training and overseeing the work of non-professional staff who assist with animal health or euthanasia procedures, and representing the city on the care and treatment of animals and pets.
—Veronica Fernandez-Alvarado, Sacbee.com, 9 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for euthanasia
Cite this Entry
“Euthanasia.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/euthanasia. Accessed 3 Jan. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
euthanasia
noun
called also mercy killing
Medical Definition
euthanasia
noun
called also mercy killing
Legal Definition
euthanasia
noun
called also mercy killing
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