heart failure

American  

noun

1. a condition in which the heart fatally ceases to function.

2. Also called congestive heart failure.  a condition in which the heart fails to pump adequate amounts of blood to the tissues, resulting in accumulation of blood returning to the heart from the veins, and often accompanied by distension of the ventricles, edema, and shortness of breath.

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heart failure British  

noun

1. a condition in which the heart is unable to pump an adequate amount of blood to the tissues, usually resulting in breathlessness, swollen ankles, etc

2. sudden and permanent cessation of the heartbeat, resulting in death

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heart failure Scientific  

1. An acute or chronic inability of the heart to maintain adequate blood circulation to the peripheral tissues and the lungs, usually characterized by fatigue, edema, and shortness of breath. Heart failure has many causes, including coronary artery disease, hypertension, and cardiomyopathy.

2. Also called congestive heart failure

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Etymology

Origin of heart failure

First recorded in 1890–95

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

heart failure

The Basel-based group is facing the expiry of patents for a number of its drugs, including Entresto, a flagship treatment for heart failure.

From Barron's ● Jul. 21, 2026

Over time, that added strain can permanently damage the heart and contribute to serious conditions such as atrial fibrillation and heart failure.

From Science Daily ● Jul. 12, 2026

David died of heart failure in Italy, the country he made his home.

From BBC ● Jul. 12, 2026

"Promptly fixing a mitral valve that is very leaky would protect the heart and could prevent congestive heart failure."

From Science Daily ● Jul. 12, 2026

He never recovered from his injuries, and shortly after Christmas that year he died of heart failure at the age of thirty-four, leaving Marian’s mother to raise their three girls.

From "The Voice That Challenged a Nation: Marian Anderson and the Struggle for Equal Rights" by Russell Freedman