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

In Thomas’s final months, years of hard living caught up with him, culminating with cirrhosis of the liver, congestive heart failure and multiple organ failure, according to his friends interviewed in this story. —Graham Womack, Sacbee.com, 16 Sep. 2025

The therapy is indicated for the treatment of edema associated with congestive heart failure, liver disease and kidney disease, including nephrotic syndrome, in adults. —New Atlas, 15 Sep. 2025

In early 2023, the company began partnering with UMass Memorial Health's Harrington Hospital in Southbridge, Massachusetts, to support congestive heart failure patients after a hospitalization. —Alexis Kayser, MSNBC Newsweek, 10 Sep. 2025

Flores also had a history of congestive heart failure, the report said. —Denise Petski, Deadline, 5 Sep. 2025

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