respirator
Meaning of respirator: A respirator most often refers to a mechanical ventilator that supports breathing, though the same word also names a protective mask that filters inhaled air.
Definition of respirator
A respirator, in a clinical setting, most often refers to a mechanical ventilator, a machine that supports or takes over the work of breathing for a person who cannot breathe adequately on their own. The device delivers a controlled mixture of air and oxygen through a tube placed in the airway or through a mask, and it can be adjusted to match a person's own breathing effort or to fully control the breathing cycle.
The same word, respirator, is also commonly used to describe a protective device worn over the nose and mouth to filter particles or contaminants out of the air before it is inhaled, such as an N95 respirator used for infection control or occupational safety, a distinct meaning from the breathing support machine.
Because respirator can refer to either a life support device or a protective mask, the surrounding context generally makes clear which meaning is intended in a given discussion.
Also known as
Used in a sentence
The patient was placed on a respirator after the surgery to support breathing during recovery.
Good to know
The word respirator can refer either to a mechanical ventilator supporting a person's breathing or to a protective filtering mask, two entirely different devices sharing the same name.
Word origin
Where “respirator” comes from
Formed from Latin re-, meaning again, and spirare, meaning to breathe.