heart failure

noun

1

: a condition in which the heart is unable to pump blood at an adequate rate or in adequate volume

2

: cessation of heartbeat : death

Examples of heart failure in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

In 2016, after another trip to the emergency room, testing revealed that Kaverman, then 27, was in the early stages of heart failure. — Toria Sheffield, PEOPLE, 9 Aug. 2026

These were coronary artery disease, heart failure, stroke, systolic blood pressure, which is the upper number in a blood-pressure reading, and type 2 diabetes. — The Conversation Us, Scientific American, 8 Aug. 2026

Later this month, Tenax Therapeutics will report results from a Phase 3 study evaluating an oral treatment for a type of heart failure associated with high blood pressure in the lungs. — Adam Feuerstein, STAT, 6 Aug. 2026

Some have brought up Karen Carpenter, who died from heart failure caused by complications of anorexia, as a reason for their worries. — Stylecaster Editors, StyleCaster, 4 Aug. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1574, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Medical Definition

heart failure

noun

1

: a condition in which the heart is unable to pump blood at an adequate rate or in adequate volume compare angina pectoris, congestive heart failure, coronary failure, heart attack

2

: cessation of heartbeat : death