pacemaker

noun pace·mak·er \ ˈpās-ˌmā-kər \

|Updated on: 11 Aug 2018

Definition of pacemaker

1 a : one that sets the pace for another

b : one that takes the lead or sets an example

2 a : a group of cells or a body part (such as the sinus node of the heart) that serves to establish and maintain a rhythmic activity

b : an electrical device for stimulating or steadying the heartbeat or reestablishing the rhythm of an arrested heart

—

pacemaking

play \ˈpās-ˌmā-kiŋ\ noun

See pacemaker defined for English-language learners

See pacemaker defined for kids

Examples of pacemaker in a Sentence

has long been regarded as a pacemaker in home electronics

Recent Examples of pacemaker from the Web

My father’s heart didn’t recover for long, battered by the eventual installation of a pacemaker, then by heart blockages and lung cancer.

— mayukh sen, Bon Appetit, "In Search of Fatima Lakhani, Whose Cookbook Changed the Way My Family Ate," 27 June 2018
There's the Swedish hospital where, in 1958, Rune Elmqvist implanted the first pacemaker, and the South African operating room where Christiaan Barnard performed the first successful human-to-human heart transplant.

— erin blakemore, Washington Post, "Pioneering heart surgery explored through 11 historic operations," 6 Mar. 2018
Three days later, doctors removed part of his bowel to relieve an intestinal blockage and installed a pacemaker, Flair said.

— joe marusak, charlotteobserver, "After an earlier life-saving operation, Ric Flair undergoes another surgery," 9 July 2018
This greatly simplifies battery-replacement surgery and could reduce complications associated with conventional pacemakers.

— leslie nemo, Scientific American, "New Wireless Pacemaker Could Prevent Common Complications," 1 Sep. 2017
Senior pup with a pacemaker goes missing His owner's on a mission to find him.

— carli teproff, miamiherald, "The pet with a pacemaker is home thanks to a man who thought the dog had been abandoned | Miami Herald," 17 May 2018
He was diagnosed with a rare genetic condition and given a pacemaker.

— sarah wilson as told to maria carter, Woman's Day, "I Trusted My Doctor—Until I Became Addicted to Prescription Painkillers," 22 Apr. 2016
The 30-year industry veteran had been hospitalized this spring following surgery for a pacemaker, and his battles with cancer and other ailments even led to a GoFundMe campaign to help his family cover hospital expenses.

— marc schneider, Billboard, "Russ Regan, 'Golden-Eared' Exec Who Signed Elton John and Barry White, Dies at 89," 29 May 2018
The unit quickly assesses vital signs, interprets EKG’s and is also a pacemaker, Peterson said.

— jane ford-stewart, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "Greendale couple anonymously donates $30,000 for heart device expected to save lives," 22 May 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'pacemaker.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

First Known Use of pacemaker

1884

in the meaning defined at sense 1a

See Words from the same year

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pacemaker Synonyms

PACEMAKER Defined for English Language Learners

pacemaker

noun

Definition of pacemaker for English Language Learners

medical : a small electrical machine put inside a person to make the heart beat evenly

Medical Dictionary

pacemaker

noun pace·mak·er \ ˈpā-ˌsmā-kər \

medical Definition of pacemaker

1 : a group of cells or a body part (as the sinoatrial node of the heart) that serves to establish and maintain a rhythmic activity

2 : an electrical device for stimulating or steadying the heartbeat or reestablishing the rhythm of an arrested heart — called also pacer

Learn More about pacemaker

See words that rhyme with pacemaker Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for pacemaker Spanish Central: Translation of pacemaker Nglish: Translation of pacemaker for Spanish speakers Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about pacemaker

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pacemaker

Definition of pacemaker

pacemaking

Examples of pacemaker in a Sentence

Recent Examples of pacemaker from the Web

First Known Use of pacemaker

pacemaker Synonyms

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PACEMAKER Defined for English Language Learners

pacemaker

Definition of pacemaker for English Language Learners

Medical Dictionary

pacemaker

medical Definition of pacemaker

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