cardiac arrest

noun

: temporary or permanent cessation of the heartbeat

Examples of cardiac arrest in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Taylor says his son collapsed and went into cardiac arrest before being airlifted to Cooper. Ryan Hughes, CBS News, 31 May 2026 First aid and recovery Abo said that a direct strike can cause cardiac arrest, and indirect strikes can cause the lungs to be temporarily paralyzed, which can also cause a heart attack. Bill Kearney, Sun Sentinel, 27 May 2026 The Heart Rate Reduction feature also appears to warn of signs of cardiac arrest. Andrew Williams, Forbes.com, 27 May 2026 The coroner’s report is chilling, listing multiple factors besides cardiac arrest that figured in her death. Christopher Bonanos, Curbed, 22 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for cardiac arrest

Word History

First Known Use

1873, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of cardiac arrest was in 1873

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Cardiac arrest.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/cardiac%20arrest. Accessed 3 Jun. 2026.

Medical Definition

cardiac arrest

noun
: abrupt temporary or permanent cessation of the heartbeat (as from ventricular fibrillation or asystole)

called also sudden cardiac arrest

Love words? Need even more definitions?

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

More from Merriam-Webster