coronary

American  

[kawr-uh-ner-ee, kor-] / ˈkɔr əˌnɛr i, ˈkɒr- /

adjective

1. of or relating to the human heart, with respect to health.

2. Medicine/Medical.

   1. pertaining to the arteries that supply the heart tissues and originate in the root of the aorta.

   2. encircling like a crown, as certain blood vessels.

3. of or like a crown.

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noun

coronaries plural

1. Pathology. a heart attack, especially a coronary thrombosis.

2. a coronary artery.

coronary British  

/ ˈkɒrənərɪ /

adjective

1. anatomy designating blood vessels, nerves, ligaments, etc, that encircle a part or structure

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noun

1. short for coronary thrombosis

coronary Scientific  

/ kôr′ə-nĕr′ē /

1. Relating to or involving the heart.

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coronary Cultural  

1. A descriptive term for the heart or the arteries that supply blood to the heart muscle.

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Discover More

The word coronary is often used by itself in an informal sense to refer to a heart attack or coronary thrombosis.

Other Word Forms

• postcoronary
  adjective

Etymology

Origin of coronary

1600–10; < Latin corōnārius, equivalent to corōn ( a ) crown + -ārius -ary; in reference to the heart, extended from coronary artery, coronary vein, etc.

Explanation

In medical terminology, coronary refers to the protective ring of blood vessels surrounding the heart and supplying it with oxygen and other nutrients. Coronary is generally used as a short term for coronary thrombosis, in other words a heart attack. Thrombosis is the act of those vessels clogging up. So cut back on the French fries and hit that exercise bike. The term coronary comes from the Latin word corona for crown, meaning king. In medieval times it was the duty of the curuner to protect the local interests of the crown, and so the term coronary was later developed by doctors to describe the way the blood vessels around the heart protected it.

Example Sentences

Today, blocked coronary arteries are often reopened quickly, and patients also receive powerful therapies such as statins, antiplatelet drugs, and other evidence-based treatments.

From Science Daily • May 25, 2026

The report also noted that Brendon had “90% blockage” in his right coronary artery.

From Los Angeles Times • May 5, 2026

When sterile water is added to the final powder, it becomes a biomaterial that can be delivered intravenously or infused into a coronary artery in the heart.

From Science Daily • May 5, 2026

“One of the reasons why clinicians use this is because there is data that shows when there are coronary calcifications patients are more likely to take medications and to adopt other preventive therapies,” he says.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 30, 2026

She was still red in the face from laughing after the sea- gull crapped on my head—I thought she was going to have a total coronary.

From "Flush" by Carl Hiaasen

Related Words

• cardiovascular disease
• congestive heart failure