hypertension

American  

[hahy-per-ten-shuhn] / ˌhaɪ pərˈtɛn ʃən /

noun

1. Pathology.

   1. elevation of the blood pressure, especially the diastolic pressure.

   2. an arterial disease characterized by this condition.

2. excessive or extreme emotional tenseness.

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hypertension British  

/ ˌhaɪpəˈtɛnsɪv, ˌhaɪpəˈtɛnʃən /

noun

1. pathol abnormally high blood pressure

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hypertension Scientific  

/ hī′pər-tĕn′shən /

1. Abnormally high blood pressure, especially in the arteries. High blood pressure increases the risk for heart attack and stroke.

2. Also called high blood pressure

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hypertension Cultural  

1. Abnormally high blood pressure.

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Other Word Forms

• antihypertension adjective
• hypertensive adjective

Etymology

Origin of hypertension

First recorded in 1890–95; hyper- + tension

Example Sentences

"MOMENTUM" is the first study conducted in the United States and the largest to date to measure how common hypercortisolism is among patients with resistant hypertension.

From Science Daily • Mar. 30, 2026

ICE maintains that Ramos-Solano received consistent medical care during his detention, noting he had been diagnosed with diabetes, hyperlipidemia, and hypertension upon intake in February and was treated daily for those conditions.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 30, 2026

Those conditions are pulmonary arterial hypertension and pulmonary hypertension with interstitial lung disease.

From Barron's • Mar. 30, 2026

"I've had gestational diabetes and chronic hypertension," she explains, sitting on a bed at the Ramón González Coro maternity hospital.

From BBC • Mar. 24, 2026

He suffers from hypertension and was also seen at the clinic for malaria.

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