defibrillator

noun

de·​fi·​bril·​la·​tor (ˌ)dē-ˈfi-brə-ˌlā-tər 

: an electronic device that applies an electric shock to restore the rhythm of a fibrillating heart

defibrillate

(ˌ)dē-ˈfi-brə-ˌlāt 

transitive verb

defibrillation

(ˌ)dē-ˌfi-brə-ˈlā-shən 

noun

Examples of defibrillator in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The program is named after a TSU graduate and cardiac surgeon who pioneered advances in his field, including implanting an automatic defibrillator in a human for the first time. —Rachel Wegner, The Tennessean, 2 July 2025

Eriksen is revived with a defibrillator and the game controversially continues with a 1-0 Finland win. 2023 — NBA Finals: Denver Nuggets beat Miami Heat 94-89 to win the franchise’s first title; MVP: Denver C Nikola Jokić. —Houston Mitchell, Los Angeles Times, 12 June 2025

The nurse immediately began performing CPR until firefighters with FDNY Engine 59 arrived and delivered four shocks with the school’s defibrillator. —Colin Mixson, New York Daily News, 21 May 2025

Minutes later, multiple fire boats arrived with a defibrillator, using the device on Barr before paramedics rushed her to the nearby hospital. —Sean Neumann, People.com, 21 May 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1952, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for defibrillator

• accelerator
• accumulator
• adjudicator
• administrator
• appropriator
• articulator
• attenuator
• bronchodilator
• collaborator
• communicator
• conciliator
• cooperator

Medical Definition

defibrillator

noun

de·​fi·​bril·​la·​tor (ˈ)dē-ˈfib-rə-ˌlāt-ər  -ˈfīb- 

: an electronic device used to defibrillate a heart by applying an electric shock to it