Main Entry: eu·tha·na·sia

Pronunciation: \ˌyü-thə-ˈnā-zh(ē-)ə\

Function: noun

Etymology: Greek, easy death, from euthanatos, from eu- + thanatos death — more at thanatos

Date: 1869

: the act or practice of killing or permitting the death of hopelessly sick or injured individuals (as persons or domestic animals) in a relatively painless way for reasons of mercy

— eu·tha·na·sic \-zik, -sik\ adjective