Plain English Meaning
Your lungs are getting plenty of oxygen, but your blood can't carry enough of it around your body. The supply is there, but the delivery system is the problem.
Full Definition
A form of hypoxia in which the blood is unable to carry a sufficient amount of oxygen to the body's cells, even though enough oxygen is available in the lungs. Causes include blood loss, anemia, and the displacement of oxygen on the hemoglobin molecule by carbon monoxide.
Context Anchor
Seen in aeromedical discussions of hypoxia, especially when learning about carbon monoxide from exhaust leaks, smoking, blood loss, and other conditions that reduce oxygen delivery.
Derivation
From the Greek 'haima' meaning blood, plus 'hypoxia' ( oxygen). So '' literally points to a blood-related cause — which is exactly where this of hypoxia originates.