iron lung

noun

: a device for artificial respiration in which rhythmic alternations in the air pressure in a chamber surrounding a patient's chest force air into and out of the lungs

Examples of iron lung in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web The process by which the iron lung functioned was simple and effective. Stephen C. George, Discover Magazine, 10 Aug. 2023 Getting patients into and out of early iron lungs was cumbersome. Stephen C. George, Discover Magazine, 10 Aug. 2023 There are incredible health care institutions here adding to a long string of greatest hits — from the discovery of anesthesia to the iron lung to the first successful organ transplant. Scott Kirsner, BostonGlobe.com, 28 May 2023 Instead of being imprisoned by the medical device that keeps him alive, the man in the iron lung has used it as a springboard to thrive. David Kindy, Smithsonian Magazine, 5 Nov. 2021 This includes one of the first batches of the polio vaccine developed by Dr. Jonas Salk in 1955 and specialized syringes and vaccination cards from that era, as well as an authentic iron lung machine, multiple artificial hearts and an extensive selection documenting the fight against AIDS. Ashraf Khalil, Star Tribune, 9 Mar. 2021 No one’s in an iron lung. Brenda Goodman, CNN, 22 Aug. 2022 Tools such as the iron lung saved thousands of polio victims’ lives when the disease caused respiratory failure. Christian Millman, Discover Magazine, 22 Oct. 2019 Those who survived the virus might be left using crutches, confined to a wheelchair, or needing an iron lung. Allison Futterman, Discover Magazine, 12 Dec. 2021

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'iron lung.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1930, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of iron lung was in 1930

Dictionary Entries Near iron lung

Cite this Entry

“Iron lung.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/iron%20lung. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

iron lung

noun
: a device for artificial respiration in which the air pressure in a chamber surrounding a patient's chest changes in a rhythm and forces air into and out of the lungs

Medical Definition

iron lung

noun
: a device for artificial respiration in which rhythmic alternations in the air pressure in a chamber surrounding a patient's chest force air into and out of the lungs especially when the nerves governing the chest muscles fail to function because of polio

called also Drinker respirator

More from Merriam-Webster on iron lung

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!