arrhythmia

noun

ar·​rhyth·​mia ā-ˈrit͟h-mē-ə 

: an alteration in rhythm of the heartbeat either in time or force

Examples of arrhythmia in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The drug can also be injected intravenously to stop heart arrhythmias (aka irregular heartbeat). —Edward Segarra, USA Today, 14 Jan. 2026

Rarer side effects may include pancreatitis, gallstones and heart arrhythmia. —Angelica Stabile, FOXNews.com, 12 Jan. 2026

However, acute blood pressure spikes are more pronounced with coffee, Routhenstein said, so those with high blood pressure or arrhythmias may benefit from green tea or decaffeinated options. —Sherri Gordon, Health, 4 Jan. 2026

Baby Sixx also had a rare heart arrhythmia known as Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome, which caused his heart rate to spike to more than 200 beats per minute at times. —Kayla Grant, PEOPLE, 2 Jan. 2026

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from Greek arrhythmía "lack of rhythm," from árrhythmos "lacking rhythm, unrhythmical" + -ia -ia entry 1 — more at arrhythmic

First Known Use

circa 1860, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing arrhythmia

• anti-arrhythmia

Medical Definition

arrhythmia

noun

ar·​rhyth·​mia ā-ˈrit͟h-mē-ə 

: an alteration in rhythm of the heartbeat either in time or force