cardiac arrest

American  

noun

Pathology.

• cardiac arrests
  plural

1. abrupt cessation of heartbeat.

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cardiac arrest British  

noun

1. failure of the pumping action of the heart, resulting in loss of consciousness and absence of pulse and breathing: a medical emergency requiring immediate resuscitative treatment

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cardiac arrest Cultural  

1. See heart attack.

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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• cardiac arrests
  plural

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Etymology

Origin of cardiac arrest

First recorded in 1955–60

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

cardiac arrest

A heart attack is not the same as a cardiac arrest.

From BBC ● Oct. 13, 2026

Alan Hirst, 19, was cycling home to Adforton, Herefordshire, in February when it is believed he fell from his bike on the flooded A4110 and suffered a cardiac arrest when he entered the water.

From BBC ● Oct. 6, 2026

Three weeks later, the band said in an Instagram that he had cardiac arrest and was receiving treatment.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 25, 2026

A Mayo Clinic study found that nearly one in five youth who suffered sudden cardiac arrest or sudden cardiac death reported routine energy-drink use.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 15, 2026

The professor had told her about doll’s eyes, another name for the white baneberry that could cause cardiac arrest.

From "Bone Gap" by Laura Ruby

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