Respirator: meaning, definitions and examples

Usually refers to a device that provides and regulates the air that a person breathes, especially in medical or industrial situations. It could be used in hospitals or in workplaces with harmful fumes.

• The doctor put the patient on a respirator to help with breathing.
• Factory workers are required to wear respirators when handling dangerous chemicals.

A general term that can refer to various types of coverings for the face, usually worn for protection or disguise. It is often used in medical, industrial, or social contexts.

• During the pandemic, everyone was required to wear a face mask in public places.
• Carpenters wore dust masks to protect themselves from inhaling wood particles.

Refers to a component that removes unwanted particles from the air or other substances. Often found in discussions about air quality or machinery maintenance.

• You need to change the air filter in your car every 10,000 miles.
• The air filter in the purifier needs to be replaced regularly for it to work efficiently.

A more formal or technical term for equipment that assists or allows breathing, often used in contexts involving firefighters, deep-sea divers, or in specific industrial environments.

• Firefighters used breathing apparatuses to rescue people from the smoke-filled building.
• The diver checked his breathing apparatus before going underwater.