fibrillation

noun

fi·​bril·​la·​tion ˌfi-brə-ˈlā-shən How to pronounce fibrillation (audio)
ˌfī-
1
: an act or process of forming fibers or fibrils
2
a
: a muscular twitching involving individual muscle fibers acting without coordination
b
: very rapid irregular contractions of the muscle fibers of the heart resulting in a lack of synchronism between heartbeat and pulse

Examples of fibrillation in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Drinking artificially sweetened beverages, like Diet Coke or Crystal Light, might increase atrial fibrillation (AFib) risk, according to a new observational study. Stephanie Brown, Verywell Health, 11 Mar. 2024 Atrial fibrillation is dangerous and on the rise Atrial fibrillation is the leading cause of stroke in the United States. Sandee Lamotte, CNN, 5 Mar. 2024 Before being admitted to the intensive care unit, Pollard tried several alternatives to improve his health, including ablations, which are procedures to treat atrial fibrillation. Angel Saunders, Peoplemag, 9 Feb. 2024 Frequently drinking sugary or diet drinks may increase the risk of atrial fibrillation (A-Fib), a potentially dangerous heart condition. Julia Landwehr, Health, 26 Mar. 2024 Most of the harmful ingredient associations were for the alcohol content, which various studies have shown to increase risk of liver cancer, gastric cancer, colon cancer, gout, and atrial fibrillation. Jennifer Ouellette, Ars Technica, 20 Dec. 2023 Meanwhile, drinking unsweetened juices, including orange juice, reduced a person's risk of atrial fibrillation by 8%. Jordan Greene, Peoplemag, 5 Mar. 2024 Atrial fibrillation is also the leading cause of stroke in the United States. Jordan Greene, Peoplemag, 5 Mar. 2024 The shock of the chilled blood may cause ventricular fibrillation leading to a heart attack and death. Drew Dawson, Journal Sentinel, 26 Feb. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'fibrillation.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1845, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of fibrillation was in 1845

Dictionary Entries Near fibrillation

Cite this Entry

“Fibrillation.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/fibrillation. Accessed 4 May. 2024.

Medical Definition

fibrillation

noun
fi·​bril·​la·​tion ˌfib-rə-ˈlā-shən How to pronounce fibrillation (audio) ˌfīb- How to pronounce fibrillation (audio)
1
: an act or process of forming fibers or fibrils
2
a
: a muscular twitching involving individual muscle fibers acting without coordination
b
: very rapid irregular contractions of the muscle fibers of the heart resulting in a lack of synchronism between heartbeat and pulse see atrial fibrillation, ventricular fibrillation

More from Merriam-Webster on fibrillation

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!