heartburn

American  

[hahrt-burn] / ˈhɑrtˌbɜrn /

noun

1. an uneasy burning sensation in the stomach, typically extending toward the esophagus, and sometimes associated with the eructation of an acid fluid.

2. bitter jealousy; envy.

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heartburn British  

/ ˈhɑːtˌbɜːn /

noun

1. Technical names: cardialgia, pyrosis. a burning sensation beneath the breastbone caused by irritation of the oesophagus, as from regurgitation of the contents of the stomach

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heartburn Scientific  

/ härt′bûrn′ /

1. A burning sensation, usually centered in the middle of the chest near the sternum, caused by the reflux of acidic stomach fluids that enter the lower end of the esophagus.

2. Also called acid reflux

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heartburn Cultural  

1. A burning sensation in the middle of the chest at the junction of the esophagus and stomach, caused by stomach acids that back up and enter the lower end of the esophagus.

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Etymology

Origin of heartburn

First recorded in 1590–1600; translation of Greek kardialgía; heart + burn ¹

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Explanation

Heartburn is an uncomfortable form of indigestion that feels like a burning in your chest. You might experience heartburn after eating twelve slices of pizza for dinner. People with a tendency to get heartburn often start to feel a painful sensation after they eat. Heartburn can begin as an acidic feeling in your stomach that moves up into your upper chest. It happens when gastric acid is regurgitated into the esophagus, and it can also be called "acid indigestion." The original, thirteenth century meaning of heartburn was "lust," but by the fifteenth century it had come to have today's meaning of "indigestion."

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

heartburn

They also all prompt a lot of heartburn about races over the past decade that fell short despite initial signs of promise and alluring polling numbers the September before the election.

From Slate ● Sep. 21, 2026

And that almost always ends in heartburn or heartache.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 28, 2026

They have bloating, heartburn and other digestive issues.

From Salon ● Jun. 14, 2026

While the towers and cables are still in good shape, fixing the deck has caused heartburn.

From Los Angeles Times ● Nov. 4, 2024

I apologize when I tell Farmer because I’m sure it’s nothing, but he asks me a dozen questions and concludes it’s probably just heartburn.

From "Mountains Beyond Mountains" by Tracy Kidder and Michael French

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Related Words

• indigestion

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