atrial fibrillation

American  

[ey-tree-uhl fib-ruh-ley-shuhn] / ˈeɪ tri əl ˌfɪb rəˈleɪ ʃən /

noun

Pathology.

1. a cardiac arrhythmia, or irregular heartbeat, caused by rapid, chaotic electrical impulses to the atria. AF, AFib.

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Etymology

Origin of atrial fibrillation

First recorded in 1905–10

Example Sentences

For example, portfolio company Laminar, which developed a treatment for certain patients with the heart-rhythm disorder atrial fibrillation, was acquired by Johnson & Johnson in 2023, a down year for M&A, he said.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 12, 2026

The positive result came after Bayer stopped a trial of the same drug to prevent stroke in patients with atrial fibrillation two years ago, because an existing treatment called apixaban performed better.

From MarketWatch • Nov. 24, 2025

The anticoagulant drugs and cardiac ablation procedures for treating atrial fibrillation aren’t without complication, so large studies are trying to determine if the additional arrhythmias found by devices like Zio are truly stroke threats.

From Barron's • Nov. 5, 2025

People with thicker necks show higher rates of cardiovascular diseases, including hypertension, atrial fibrillation, and heart failure.

From Science Daily • Oct. 20, 2025

They said that includes a recent fainting episode, and over the last five years, a broken back, a torn Achilles tendon and atrial fibrillation which could make Murdoch “unavailable for in-person testimony at trial.”

From Los Angeles Times • Aug. 5, 2025