cryonics

noun

cry·​on·​ics krī-ˈä-niks How to pronounce cryonics (audio)
plural in form but usually singular in construction
: the practice of freezing a person who has died of a disease in hopes of restoring life at some future time when a cure for the disease has been developed
cryonic
krī-ˈä-nik How to pronounce cryonics (audio)
adjective

Examples of cryonics 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.
But the most immediate medical application is in the field of cryonics — freezing organs for transplantation. — Holly Barker, Discover Magazine, 6 Apr. 2022 Bradford was wary of going public with his curiosity, fearing he'd be branded a crank for suggesting astronauts be put on ice—a concept uncomfortably similar to the one touted by the dubious cryonics industry. — Brendan I. Koerner, WIRED, 24 Nov. 2022

Word History

Etymology

earlier cryonic (from Greek krýos "icy cold, frost" + -onic—in bionic) + (-ics) — more at cryo-

First Known Use

1966, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of cryonics was in 1966

Rhymes for cryonics

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Cite this Entry

“Cryonics.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/cryonics. Accessed 20 Mar. 2025.

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Medical Definition

cryonics

noun, plural in form but usually singular in construction
cry·​on·​ics krī-ˈän-iks How to pronounce cryonics (audio)
: the practice of freezing the body of a person who has died from a disease in hopes of restoring life at some future time when a cure for the disease has been developed
cryonic
-ik How to pronounce cryonics (audio)
adjective
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