Origin: Latin suffix -ory
Respiratory has 2 different meanings across 1 category:
Relating to respiration or the organs of respiration; breathing.
"The patient's respiratory condition improved after starting the new medication."
In plain English: Respiratory means anything related to breathing air into and out of your lungs.
"She wore a mask to protect her respiratory health during flu season."
Usage: Use respiratory as an adjective specifically when describing parts of the body involved in breathing, such as the respiratory system or tract. Avoid using it for general feelings like "feeling breathless," which should instead be described with terms related to shortness of breath.
The word respiratory comes from the New Latin term respīrātōrius, which was formed by combining the verb respire with the suffix -atory. It entered English to describe anything related to breathing or the organs used for it.