atrial fibrillation

[ ey-tree-uhl fib-ruh-ley-shuhn ]

noun

, Pathology.

1. a cardiac arrhythmia, or irregular heartbeat, caused by rapid, chaotic electrical impulses to the atria. : AF, AFib. Compare ventricular fibrillation ( def ).

Word History and Origins

Origin of atrial fibrillation¹

First recorded in 1905–10

Example Sentences

Cue atrial fibrillation on my part; I'd already arranged to break my lease, and also, I'd gotten rather fond of him.

From The Daily Beast