heartburn

noun

heart·​burn ˈhärt-ˌbərn 

plural heartburns

: a burning discomfort behind the lower part of the sternum due especially to the backward flow of the acidic contents of the stomach into the esophagus

In any given month, about one-quarter of Americans suffer from heartburn, which is caused by reflux, or backward flow, of stomach acid into the esophagus.

—Clyde M. Burnham

Heartburn—painful reflux of stomach acid—can occur in a person with a perfectly intact esophagus.

—Paul G. Donohue

see acid reflux

Examples of heartburn in a Sentence

I like spicy food, but it gives me heartburn.

Recent Examples on the Web

Senate Republicans are experiencing a new case of heartburn over Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth after a spate of Pentagon staff firings in recent weeks and the emergence of a second Signal chat reportedly detailing attack plans in a month’s time. —Al Weaver, The Hill, 21 Apr. 2025

First, coffee is significantly more acidic than matcha, which can irritate some people's stomachs or cause heartburn. —Sohaib Imtiaz, Verywell Health, 26 Mar. 2025

That is yet another wording that creates some heartburn. —Lance Eliot, Forbes, 19 Mar. 2025

Chest pain: Severe heartburn can also cause sharp, stabbing pains in your chest, which can be mistaken for a heart attack. —Mark Gurarie, Health, 7 Mar. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for heartburn

• adjourn
• concern
• decern
• discern
• downturn
• extern
• interne
• nocturne
• return
• sunburn
• unworn
• upturn

Kids Definition

heartburn

noun

heart·​burn -ˌbərn 

: a burning discomfort seeming to occur in the area of the heart and usually due to spasms which pass acid from the stomach into the esophagus

Medical Definition

heartburn

noun

heart·​burn -ˌbərn 

: a burning discomfort behind the lower part of the sternum due especially to the backward flow of the acidic contents of the stomach into the esophagus

called also cardialgia, pyrosis

see acid reflux compare water brash