arrhythmic

adjective

ar·​rhyth·​mic ā-ˈrit͟h-mik 

1

: lacking rhythm or regularity

To assist my arrhythmic descents I'd been swinging my arms and shoulders too wildly.

—Kenny Moore

The conductor-less orchestra pit produces arrhythmic and atonal sounds …

—Josef Woodard

2

: of, relating to, characterized by, or resulting from arrhythmia

… less than 10 percent of untreated patients develop cardiac problems such as heart block, with its resultant arrhythmic heartbeat

—Thomas J. Daniels and Richard C. Falco

Examples of arrhythmic in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Audiences may be divided by the film’s arrhythmic storytelling and third-act plunge into outright, impressionistic disorder — but adventurous distributors should see its talking-point potential, while a main competition berth at Karlovy Vary will kick off a long festival run. —Guy Lodge, Variety, 3 July 2024

Supplemental unsolicited percussion was provided by the audience, who dropped no less than five phones on the floor at adventurously arrhythmic intervals throughout the performance. —Michael Andor Brodeur, Washington Post, 22 June 2024

Five episodes in, Masters of the Air’s narrative rhythms are growing less syncopated and more, well, arrhythmic. —Chris Klimek, Vulture, 9 Feb. 2024

A number of different conditions can lead to cardiac arrest: arrhythmic causes [relating to an irregular heartbeat], arterial causes [when the arteries can’t provide enough blood to the heart], heart muscle causes. —Corinne Purtill, Los Angeles Times, 25 July 2023

Word History

Etymology

Greek árrhythmos "lacking rhythm, unrhythmical" (from a- a- entry 2 + -rrhythmos, adjective derivative of rhythmós rhythm) + -ic entry 1

First Known Use

1833, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing arrhythmic

• anti-arrhythmic

Medical Definition

arrhythmic

adjective

ar·​rhyth·​mic -mik 

1

: lacking rhythm or regularity

arrhythmic locomotor activity

2

: of, relating to, characterized by, or resulting from arrhythmia

arrhythmic risk

arrhythmic death