defibrillator

noun

de·​fi·​bril·​la·​tor (ˌ)dē-ˈfi-brə-ˌlā-tər 

: an electronic device that applies an electric shock to restore the rhythm of a fibrillating heart

defibrillate

(ˌ)dē-ˈfi-brə-ˌlāt 

transitive verb

defibrillation

(ˌ)dē-ˌfi-brə-ˈlā-shən 

noun

Examples of defibrillator in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Among the participants in the first group, around 23% experienced a medical event such as a dangerously fast heart rhythm, treatment by a defibrillator (either a shock or pacing), an unplanned hospital stay for heart rhythm problems or heart failure, or death from any cause. —Angelica Stabile, FOXNews.com, 9 Sep. 2025

Ambulance crews carry defibrillators, but in remote or rural areas, delays are common. —Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 8 Sep. 2025

Public defibrillators are often locked away in buildings or overlooked in emergencies. —New Atlas, 28 Aug. 2025

Around the world, defibrillators, motorbikes, and water towers are being donated, sold, or simply abandoned. —Hana Kiros, The Atlantic, 26 Aug. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1952, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for defibrillator

• accelerator
• accumulator
• adjudicator
• administrator
• appropriator
• articulator
• attenuator
• bronchodilator
• collaborator
• communicator
• conciliator
• cooperator

Medical Definition

defibrillator

noun

de·​fi·​bril·​la·​tor (ˈ)dē-ˈfib-rə-ˌlāt-ər  -ˈfīb- 

: an electronic device used to defibrillate a heart by applying an electric shock to it