arrhythmia

noun

ar·​rhyth·​mia ā-ˈrit͟h-mē-ə 

: an alteration in rhythm of the heartbeat either in time or force

Examples of arrhythmia in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The pacemaker transformed cardiac medicine by dramatically increasing survival rates for patients with arrhythmias and heart block, becoming one of the most important life-saving medical technologies ever created. —Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 28 May 2026

Doctors there found heart arrhythmia and a lung tumor his family feared was malignant. —ABC News, 8 May 2026

The overdoses can cause a range of harmful effects on the body, Felton said, including a high heart rate or arrhythmia and urinary retention that can cause renal or kidney dysfunction. —Ciara McCarthy, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 29 Apr. 2026

Wearables can also flag some serious conditions, like cardiac arrhythmia, which is an irregular heart rhythm that can increase the risk of a serious medical incident. —Brittney Melton, NPR, 28 Apr. 2026

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

Phrases Containing arrhythmia

• anti-arrhythmia

Medical Definition

arrhythmia

noun

ar·​rhyth·​mia ā-ˈrit͟h-mē-ə 

: an alteration in rhythm of the heartbeat either in time or force