venous

adjective

ve·​nous ˈvē-nəs How to pronounce venous (audio)
1
: of, relating to, or full of veins
a venous thrombosis
a venous rock
2
of blood : having passed through the capillaries and given up oxygen for the tissues and become charged with carbon dioxide
venously adverb

Examples of venous 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.
Typically, a patient with diabetes has to have their blood tested twice a year (four times if the disease is not stable or being actively managed), either by venous blood draw or at-home fingerstick tests. — Fiorella Valdesolo, Allure, 30 Oct. 2026 Florida’s law requires hospitals to have protocols to assess and treat patients at risk of blood clots and train hospital staff to recognize the symptoms of venous thromboembolism. — Ali Ataya, The Conversation, 26 Oct. 2026 Both deep vein thrombosis (DVT) and pulmonary embolism (PE) are forms of venous thromboembolism, commonly known as blood clots in the veins, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. — David K. Li, NBC news, 19 Oct. 2026 Stoughton broadly recommends any kind of standing water activity for anyone looking to avoid vein issues or even counteract early-stage venous insufficiency. — Erica Sloan, Washington Post, 10 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for venous

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from Latin vēnōsus, from vēna vein entry 1 + -ōsus -ous

First Known Use

1626, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of venous was in 1626

Phrases Containing venous

Rhymes for venous

See All Rhymes for venous

Browse Nearby Words

venose
venous
vent
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Venous.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/venous. Accessed 1 Nov. 2026.

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Kids Definition

venous

adjective
ve·​nous ˈvē-nəs How to pronounce venous (audio)
1
: of, relating to, or full of veins
a venous rock
2
: being blood which has passed through the capillaries, given up oxygen to the tissues, and become loaded with carbon dioxide

Medical Definition

venous

adjective
ve·​nous ˈvē-nəs How to pronounce venous (audio)
1
a
: full of or characterized by veins
b
: made up of or carried on by veins
the venous circulation
2
: of, relating to, or performing the functions of a vein
a venous inflammation
venous arteries
3
of blood : having passed through the capillaries and given up oxygen for the tissues and become charged with carbon dioxide and ready to pass through the respiratory organs to release its carbon dioxide and renew its oxygen supply : dark red from reduced hemoglobin compare arterial sense 2
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