general anesthesia

noun

: anesthesia affecting the entire body and accompanied by loss of consciousness compare local anesthesia
general anesthetic noun

Examples of general anesthesia in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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.
The company says some of its procedures can be performed without general anesthesia, and with shorter procedure times. — Alexa Lomonaco, CNBC, 17 Aug. 2026 Ashley was diagnosed with antiphospholipid syndrome during her pregnancy, and she was urgently flown to John Hunter Hospital in Newcastle for an emergency cesarean section under general anesthesia, according to the fundraiser. — Angelique Brenes, PEOPLE, 11 Aug. 2026 While the patients were under general anesthesia, surgeons temporarily inserted thin probes into their hippocampus. — Jacek Krywko, Scientific American, 6 May 2026 Last year, a Dane County judge appointed a special prosecutor to investigate Ridglan Farms after former employees testified that dogs were being mistreated, including having eye surgeries performed on them without general anesthesia. — Jeanine Santucci, USA Today, 30 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for general anesthesia

Word History

First Known Use

1881, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of general anesthesia was in 1881

Rhymes for general anesthesia

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Browse Nearby Words

general american
general anesthesia
general assembly
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Cite this Entry

“General anesthesia.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/general%20anesthesia. Accessed 20 Aug. 2026.

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Medical Definition

general anesthesia

noun
: anesthesia affecting the entire body and accompanied by loss of consciousness
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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