heatstroke

American  

[heet-strohk] / ˈhitˌstroʊk /

noun

• heatstrokes
  plural

1. a disturbance of the temperature-regulating mechanisms of the body caused by overexposure to excessive heat, resulting in fever, hot and dry skin, and rapid pulse, sometimes progressing to delirium and coma.

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heatstroke British  

/ ˈhiːtˌstrəʊk /

noun

1. a condition resulting from prolonged exposure to intense heat, characterized by high fever and in severe cases convulsions and coma See sunstroke

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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• heatstrokes
  plural

Etymology

Origin of heatstroke

First recorded in 1870–75; heat + stroke ¹

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

heatstroke heatstrokes

If USC had maintained its traditional rivalry scheduling with Notre Dame this season, they would have sold out the Coliseum on Thanksgiving Saturday instead of subjecting a sparse August crowd to possible heatstroke.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 5, 2026

Extreme heat can kill through heatstroke but mostly proves fatal when combined with existing conditions such as cardiovascular, lung or kidney diseases.

From Barron's ● Aug. 27, 2026

Alongside the risk of dehydration and heatstroke, a bout of extreme heat raises the chances of complications from chronic conditions like advanced heart, kidney and respiratory failure.

From BBC ● Aug. 6, 2026

Temperatures could reach 39C in the prefecture in the coming days, according to forecasts, with officials urging survivors and rescuers to take precautions against heatstroke.

From BBC ● Jul. 30, 2026

Our caravan slept in the little shade it could find, grunting like camels with heatstroke.

From "The Many Assassinations of Samir, the Seller of Dreams" by Daniel Nayeri

Last year, the number of people who suffered heatstrokes at their workplaces reached a record 1,803, said a report by news outlet Kyodo.

From BBC ● Jul. 22, 2026