arrhythmia

noun

ar·​rhyth·​mia ā-ˈrit͟h-mē-ə How to pronounce arrhythmia (audio)
: an alteration in rhythm of the heartbeat either in time or force

Examples of arrhythmia in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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Potential symptoms include insomnia, muscle cramps, constipation, nausea and vomiting, fatigue, weakness, numbness, tingling, personality changes and heart arrhythmias, experts say. Amy McGorry, FOXNews.com, 9 June 2025 Afib is the most common type of arrhythmia, and WHOOP has achieved clinical-grade detection rates with this feature. John Werner, Forbes.com, 8 May 2025 Estimates of people with other arrhythmias are less conclusive, but in general, people with arrhythmias are at higher risk of having heart attacks or strokes and dying early, Pell said. Kristen Rogers, CNN Money, 17 Apr. 2025 Anyone with an arrhythmia at the start of the study was excluded. Tom Gavin, EverydayHealth.com, 16 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for arrhythmia

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from Greek arrhythmía "lack of rhythm," from árrhythmos "lacking rhythm, unrhythmical" + -ia -ia entry 1 — more at arrhythmic

First Known Use

circa 1860, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of arrhythmia was circa 1860

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Cite this Entry

“Arrhythmia.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/arrhythmia. Accessed 16 Jun. 2025.

Medical Definition

arrhythmia

noun
ar·​rhyth·​mia ā-ˈrit͟h-mē-ə How to pronounce arrhythmia (audio)
: an alteration in rhythm of the heartbeat either in time or force

More from Merriam-Webster on arrhythmia

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