congestive heart failure

noun

: heart failure in which the heart is unable to maintain an adequate circulation of blood in the bodily tissues or to pump out the venous blood returned to it by the veins

Examples of congestive heart failure in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The program is one of several that Mama’s Kitchen offers for San Diego residents with HIV, cancer, congestive heart failure, type 2 diabetes, chronic kidney disease and other critical illnesses. —Linda McIntosh, San Diego Union-Tribune, 19 Feb. 2026

Isaiah Zagar, a mosaic artist who founded Philadelphia's Magic Gardens, died Thursday at age 86, from complications related to congestive heart failure and Parkinson's Disease, the local art space announced. —Joe Brandt, CBS News, 19 Feb. 2026

Some studies suggest this may help with congestive heart failure (when the heart isn’t able to pump enough blood). —Mark Gurarie, Verywell Health, 17 Feb. 2026

In recent years Foege battled multiple health ailments, including cancer, congestive heart failure, gout, and a terrible case of shingles. —Helen Branswell, STAT, 25 Jan. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1930, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

congestive heart failure

noun

con·​ges·​tive heart failure

kən-ˈjes-tiv-

: heart failure in which the heart is unable to keep enough blood circulating in the tissues or is unable to pump out the blood returned to it by the veins

Medical Definition

congestive heart failure

noun

: heart failure in which the heart is unable to maintain adequate circulation of blood in the tissues of the body or to pump out the venous blood returned to it by the venous circulation compare coronary failure