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

In January, an investigative report listed Naroditsky’s pending probable cause of death as cardiac arrhythmia and cardiac involvement in systemic sarcoidosis, according to documents obtained from the North Carolina Office of the Chief Medical Examiner. —Caelyn Pender, Mercury News, 21 Jan. 2026

Daniel Naroditsky, one of the world’s greatest chess champions and a coach at the Charlotte Chess Center, died of cardiac arrhythmia, or an abnormal heartbeat, after ingesting methamphetamine and kratom, according to his autopsy report. —Joe Marusak, Charlotte Observer, 21 Jan. 2026

The drug can also be injected intravenously to stop heart arrhythmias (aka irregular heartbeat). —Edward Segarra, USA Today, 14 Jan. 2026

Rarer side effects may include pancreatitis, gallstones and heart arrhythmia. —Angelica Stabile, FOXNews.com, 12 Jan. 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