pacemaker

American  

[peys-mey-ker] / ˈpeɪsˌmeɪ kər /

noun

1. pacesetter.

2. Medicine/Medical. an electronic device implanted beneath the skin for providing a normal heartbeat by electrical stimulation of the heart muscle, used in certain heart conditions.

3. Anatomy, Physiology. any specialized tissue that governs a rhythmic or cyclic biological activity, as the sinoatrial node of the heart that controls heartbeat.

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pacemaker British  

/ ˈpeɪsˌmeɪkə /

noun

1. a person, horse, vehicle, etc, used in a race or speed trial to set the pace

2. a person, an organization, etc, regarded as being the leader in a particular field of activity

3. Also called: cardiac pacemaker.  a small area of specialized tissue within the wall of the right atrium of the heart whose spontaneous electrical activity initiates and controls the beat of the heart

4. Also called: artificial pacemaker.  an electronic device for use in certain cases of heart disease to assume the functions of the natural cardiac pacemaker

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pacemaker Scientific  

/ pās′mā′kər /

1. Any of several usually miniaturized and surgically implanted electronic devices used to stimulate or regulate contractions of the heart muscle. Electrodes attached to the heart muscle conduct electrical signals generated from the pacemaker, which either provides constant electrical stimuli to regularize the heartbeat (fixed-rate pacemakers) or provides a stimulus only when electrical activity within the heart is abnormal (demand pacemakers). Pacemakers are used in the treatment of various arrhythmias.

2. A part of the body, such as the specialized mass of cardiac muscle fibers of the sinoatrial node, that sets the pace or rhythm of physiological activity.

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pacemaker Cultural  

1. A group of specialized muscle fibers in the heart that send out impulses to regulate the heartbeat. If the heart's built-in pacemaker does not function properly, an artificial pacemaker may be necessary — a small electrical device that also regulates the heartbeat by sending out impulses. An artificial pacemaker may be placed inside the body surgically or may be worn outside.

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Other Word Forms

• pacemaking noun

Etymology

Origin of pacemaker

First recorded in 1880–85; pace ¹ + maker

Example Sentences

From cornflakes to the pacemaker, some of our most beloved—and useful—products were born of blunders.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 5, 2026

The first wholly implantable pacemaker was placed in a dog in 1958 and in a human two years later.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 4, 2026

Investigators are now using a device that might be able to detect Bluetooth signals coming from her pacemaker, law enforcement sources told CBS.

From BBC • Feb. 18, 2026

Nancy’s pacemaker app shows that it was a disconnect from the phone, Nanos said.

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 7, 2026

Only one customer had complained that he believed the blanket made his heart pacemaker malfunction, but there was no injury and no lawsuit.

From "Things Not Seen" by Andrew Clements

Related Words

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