congestive heart failure

noun

: heart failure in which the heart is unable to maintain an adequate circulation of blood in the bodily tissues or to pump out the venous blood returned to it by the veins

Examples of congestive heart failure in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Studies have found, for example, that hospice patients with congestive heart failure or lung cancer live about a month longer, on average, than similar patients in the standard medical system. — Kim Clark, CBS News, 13 Aug. 2026

Representatives for Katsis confirmed his death on Thursday in Los Angeles, from complications of congestive heart failure, in a statement to the Hollywood Reporter and Billboard. — Los Angeles Times, 7 Aug. 2026

Katsis died Thursday morning at a hospital in Los Angeles due to complications from congestive heart failure, a representative for Katsis said. — Ethan Millman, HollywoodReporter, 6 Aug. 2026

After being hospitalized in Dallas in 2013 for viral cardiomyopathy, Travis suffered congestive heart failure and a stroke. — Edward Segarra, USA Today, 4 Aug. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1930, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

congestive heart failure

noun

con·​ges·​tive heart failure

kən-ˈjes-tiv-

: heart failure in which the heart is unable to keep enough blood circulating in the tissues or is unable to pump out the blood returned to it by the veins

Medical Definition

congestive heart failure

noun

: heart failure in which the heart is unable to maintain adequate circulation of blood in the tissues of the body or to pump out the venous blood returned to it by the venous circulation compare coronary failure