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

Consuming more than 4 cups of caffeinated coffee a day may increase the risk of heart failure.

From Science Daily ● Jul. 22, 2026

Drinking 2-4 cups of caffeinated coffee per day was associated with lower risks of heart disease, heart failure and stroke.

From Science Daily ● Jul. 22, 2026

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

Doctors diagnosed Arafat with pneumonia and heart failure, both complications of measles.

From BBC ● Jul. 8, 2026

When Joey Guerrero dies of heart failure on June 18, none of the people in her life know anything about her past.

From "At Last She Stood" by Erin Entrada Kelly