transfusion
noun
trans·fu·sion
tran(t)s-ˈfyü-zhən 
1
: an act, process, or instance of transfusing
especially
: the process of transfusing fluid (such as blood) into a vein or artery
2
: something transfused
Did you know?
When blood transfusions were first attempted by Europeans in the early 1600s, they were met with skepticism, since the established practice was to bleed patients, not transfuse them with blood. Some patients were transfused with animal blood, and so many died as a result that by 1700 transfusions had been widely outlawed. Not until 1900 were the major blood groups (A, B, AB, and O) recognized, making transfusions safe and effective.
Examples of transfusion in a Sentence
Without a transfusion her chances of survival were slim.
Recent Examples on the Web
For more than two decades, rumors circulated that her father, Abraham Quintanilla, had refused the transfusion due to his affiliation with the Jehovah's Witness religion.
—
Brandi D. Addison, Austin American Statesman, 2 July 2025
Even as the number of visits to the emergency department increased, the proportion of those visits with a transfusion also went up, from 2.5% in pre-COVID years to 2.8% in 2022 and 3% in 2023 — suggesting that the increase in transfusions may not be explained by an increase in encounters alone.
—Andrea Suozzo, ProPublica, 1 July 2025
Identifying a patient’s blood type is key to safely giving them a transfusion, reports the AFP.
—Sarah Kuta, Smithsonian Magazine, 24 June 2025
Remember that the safety of a transfusion depends on the compatibility of blood groups.
—Mandy Taheri, MSNBC Newsweek, 21 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for transfusion
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Brandi D. Addison, Austin American Statesman, 2 July 2025
Even as the number of visits to the emergency department increased, the proportion of those visits with a transfusion also went up, from 2.5% in pre-COVID years to 2.8% in 2022 and 3% in 2023 — suggesting that the increase in transfusions may not be explained by an increase in encounters alone.
—Andrea Suozzo, ProPublica, 1 July 2025
Identifying a patient’s blood type is key to safely giving them a transfusion, reports the AFP.
—Sarah Kuta, Smithsonian Magazine, 24 June 2025
Remember that the safety of a transfusion depends on the compatibility of blood groups.
—Mandy Taheri, MSNBC Newsweek, 21 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for transfusion
Cite this Entry
“Transfusion.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/transfusion. Accessed 5 Aug. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
transfusion
noun
trans·fu·sion
tran(t)s-ˈfyü-zhən
1
: an act, process, or instance of transfusing
especially
: the process of transfusing a fluid and especially blood into a blood vessel
2
: something transfused
Medical Definition
transfusion
noun
trans·fu·sion
tran(t)s-ˈfyü-zhən
1
: the process of transfusing fluid (as blood) into a vein or artery
2
: something transfused
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