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 company also flags baseline cardiac disease, abnormal ECG, arrhythmia, prior cervical vagotomy, abnormal cervical anatomy, brain tumor or aneurysm history, head trauma, syncope, seizures and nickel allergy as unevaluated risks. —Samantha Agate, Sacbee.com, 3 June 2026

Your Heart Rate and Blood Pressure Increase Energy drinks contain high levels of caffeine, which can lead to issues with heart function and the cardiovascular system, including heart palpitations and arrhythmias. —Angelica Bottaro, Verywell Health, 1 June 2026

The pacemaker transformed cardiac medicine by dramatically increasing survival rates for patients with arrhythmias and heart block, becoming one of the most important life-saving medical technologies ever created. —Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 28 May 2026

Doctors there found heart arrhythmia and a lung tumor his family feared was malignant. —ABC News, 8 May 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