devoid of oxygen

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase 'devoid of oxygen' is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe something that lacks oxygen, such as a sealed environment like the bottom of a deep ocean trench. For example, "The bottom of the Marianas Trench is devoid of oxygen and inhabited by creatures adapted to a life without it."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Academia

Encyclopedias

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

29 human-written examples

The water coming out of the bottom of the dam was cold, which trout like, but nearly devoid of oxygen.

The New York Times - Sports

Microbe counts on this day were 232 times acceptable level; bottom waters were nearly devoid of oxygen.

Columbia University

The resulting dead zones in coastal waters and estuaries are devoid of oxygen and largely devoid of life.

The New York Times

By human standards, Earth was a forbidding place: the seawater more than a hundred degrees Fahrenheit, the atmosphere a toxic blend devoid of oxygen.

The New Yorker

This environment is completely devoid of oxygen – the foetus receives all the oxygen it needs, as well as other nutrients, via the placenta.

The Guardian

But pyrite does not dissolve in water if too much oxygen is around, so this suggests that the atmosphere was largely devoid of oxygen at that time.

The New York Times - Science

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

31 human-written examples

Thus, the results confirm that the deeper layers of the chicken and turtle retinae are mostly devoid of oxygen-consuming bodies.

Genome Biology and Evolution

In a whole-animal sheep model, Vlahakes et al [ 5] showed in awake sheep that extreme haemodilution to a haematocrit of 2.4 ± 0.5% was only tolerated when a polymerized bovine haemoglobin solution was used, but not in animals treated with hydroxyethyl starch devoid of oxygen-carrying capacity.

Critical Care

Most organisms would disappear, and in time Earth's atmosphere would become nearly devoid of gaseous oxygen.

Encyclopedia Britannica

"In the past," Pierce said, "in late summer, when dissolved oxygen levels got low in the reservoir, the water was coming out of the bottom of the dam nice and cold but was nearly devoid of dissolved oxygen.

The New York Times - Sports

For instance, he said, areas dominated by the water chestnut are already devoid of summertime oxygen, and this limits habitat for native species, hobbling habitat restoration efforts and shrinking rather than expanding the ranges of many aquatic creatures.

The New York Times - Science

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "devoid of oxygen" to clearly indicate a complete absence of oxygen, particularly in scientific or technical contexts. Ensure it accurately reflects the situation you're describing, as other terms might imply low levels rather than a complete absence.

Common error

Avoid using "devoid of oxygen" when you mean 'low oxygen' or 'oxygen-poor'. "Devoid" indicates a complete absence, not just a deficiency. Using the term inaccurately can mislead your audience.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "devoid of oxygen" functions as an adjective phrase modifying a noun, indicating the absence of oxygen in a specific context. As Ludwig AI shows, it often describes environments or substances.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

Science

30%

News & Media

28%

Academia

23%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

9%

Wiki

6%

Formal & Business

4%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "devoid of oxygen" is a grammatically correct and commonly used expression to indicate the complete absence of oxygen. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, it appears frequently in scientific, news, and academic contexts to describe environments or conditions lacking oxygen. While "lacking oxygen" and "without oxygen" serve as alternatives, "devoid" implies a more absolute absence. When employing the phrase, ensure the context accurately reflects this complete absence rather than merely a deficiency. Overall, "devoid of oxygen" is a reliable and effective way to communicate the lack of oxygen in various settings.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Lacking oxygen

Direct synonym, emphasizing the absence of oxygen.

Without oxygen

Similar to 'lacking oxygen', focusing on the absence of oxygen.

Oxygen-free

Adjective describing a state where oxygen is not present.

Anoxic

Technical term for the absence of oxygen, often in scientific contexts.

Oxygen deficient

Emphasizes a state where oxygen levels are significantly lower than required.

Hypoxic

Describes a condition of low oxygen supply, not necessarily complete absence.

Oxygen-starved

Emphasizes the deprivation of oxygen, suggesting a need or requirement.

Anerobic

Relates to an environment or process occurring without oxygen.

In an oxygen-less environment

More descriptive and emphasizes the surrounding conditions.

Where oxygen is absent

A more verbose alternative, highlighting the absence of oxygen in a specific location.

FAQs

How to use "devoid of oxygen" in a sentence?

You can use "devoid of oxygen" to describe environments or conditions lacking oxygen. For example, "The deep-sea trench is "devoid of oxygen", making it uninhabitable for most marine life".

What can I say instead of "devoid of oxygen"?

You can use alternatives like "lacking oxygen", "without oxygen", or "anoxic" depending on the context.

Is it more appropriate to say 'devoid of oxygen' or 'lacking oxygen'?

Both phrases are correct, but ""devoid of oxygen"" implies a complete absence of oxygen, while "lacking oxygen" can refer to a deficiency, not necessarily a total absence.

What is the difference between "devoid of oxygen" and "anaerobic"?

"Devoid of oxygen" describes a condition or environment lacking oxygen. "Anaerobic" describes a process or organism that can function without oxygen.