blood pressure

American  

noun

Physiology.

1. the pressure of the blood against the inner walls of the blood vessels, varying in different parts of the body during different phases of contraction of the heart and under different conditions of health, exertion, etc. BP

---

blood pressure British  

noun

1. the pressure exerted by the blood on the inner walls of the arteries, being relative to the elasticity and diameter of the vessels and the force of the heartbeat

---

blood pressure Scientific  

1. The pressure of the blood in the vessels, especially the arteries, as it circulates through the body. Blood pressure varies with the strength of the heartbeat, the volume of blood being pumped, and the elasticity of the blood vessels. Arterial blood pressure is usually measured by means of a sphygmomanometer and reported in millimeters of mercury as a fraction, with the numerator equal to the blood pressure during systole and the denominator equal to the blood pressure during diastole.

2. See more at hypertension hypotension

---

blood pressure Cultural  

1. The pressure of the blood against the walls of the blood vessels, especially the arteries. It is expressed in two figures, said to be one “over” the other: the systolic pressure, which is the pressure when the left ventricle of the heart contracts to push the blood through the body; and the diastolic pressure, which is the pressure when the ventricle relaxes and fills with blood. Blood pressure is affected by the strength of the heartbeat, the volume of blood in the body, the elasticity of the blood vessels, and the age and general health of the person. (See circulatory system.)

---

Etymology

Origin of blood pressure

First recorded in 1870–75

Example Sentences

The researchers also incorporated common inaccuracies in blood pressure readings into their analysis.

From Science Daily • Apr. 16, 2026

Lee, 55, said unmanaged cholesterol levels and high blood pressure were likely contributors to the stroke, plus the stress of balancing her real-life practice with the demands of “Dr. Pimple Popper.”

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 14, 2026

They also had higher rates of depression, high blood pressure, and diabetes.

From Science Daily • Apr. 14, 2026

But matching exercise with chronotype produced larger health gains in blood pressure, aerobic capacity, metabolic markers and sleep quality.

From BBC • Apr. 14, 2026

Her cholesterol levels were stubbornly high and her blood pressure was up, despite drugs for both.

From "Class Matters" by The New York Times