heart block

noun

: incoordination of the heartbeat in which the atria and ventricles beat independently and which is marked by decreased cardiac output

Examples of heart block 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.
The Oliveri baby had a complete heart block, said NYU Langone pediatric cardiologist and electrophysiologist Dr. Reina Tan. — Kerry Breen, CBS News, 22 Feb. 2025 People with arrhythmias or heart block because beta-blockers can slow the heart rate, which may worsen some types of arrhythmias. — Sara Hoffman, Pharmd, Verywell Health, 22 Oct. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1903, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of heart block was in 1903

Rhymes for heart block

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Browse Nearby Words

heartbeat law
heart block
heart bond
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Cite this Entry

“Heart block.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/heart%20block. Accessed 1 Apr. 2025.

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Medical Definition

heart block

noun
: incoordination of the heartbeat in which the atria and ventricles beat independently due to defective transmission through the bundle of His and which is marked by decreased cardiac output often with cerebral ischemia

More from Merriam-Webster on heart block

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about heart block

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