pacemaker

American  

[peys-mey-ker] / ˈpeɪsˌmeɪ kər /

noun

• pacemakers
  plural

1. pacesetter.

2. Medicine/Medical. an electronic device implanted beneath the skin for providing a normal heartbeat by electrical stimulation of the heart muscle, used in certain heart conditions.

3. Anatomy, Physiology. any specialized tissue that governs a rhythmic or cyclic biological activity, as the sinoatrial node of the heart that controls heartbeat.

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pacemaker British  

/ ˈpeɪsˌmeɪkə /

noun

1. a person, horse, vehicle, etc, used in a race or speed trial to set the pace

2. a person, an organization, etc, regarded as being the leader in a particular field of activity

3. Also called: cardiac pacemaker.  a small area of specialized tissue within the wall of the right atrium of the heart whose spontaneous electrical activity initiates and controls the beat of the heart

4. Also called: artificial pacemaker.  an electronic device for use in certain cases of heart disease to assume the functions of the natural cardiac pacemaker

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pacemaker Scientific  

/ pās′mā′kər /

1. Any of several usually miniaturized and surgically implanted electronic devices used to stimulate or regulate contractions of the heart muscle. Electrodes attached to the heart muscle conduct electrical signals generated from the pacemaker, which either provides constant electrical stimuli to regularize the heartbeat (fixed-rate pacemakers) or provides a stimulus only when electrical activity within the heart is abnormal (demand pacemakers). Pacemakers are used in the treatment of various arrhythmias.

2. A part of the body, such as the specialized mass of cardiac muscle fibers of the sinoatrial node, that sets the pace or rhythm of physiological activity.

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pacemaker Cultural  

1. A group of specialized muscle fibers in the heart that send out impulses to regulate the heartbeat. If the heart's built-in pacemaker does not function properly, an artificial pacemaker may be necessary — a small electrical device that also regulates the heartbeat by sending out impulses. An artificial pacemaker may be placed inside the body surgically or may be worn outside.

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• pacemaking
  noun

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• pacemakers
  plural

Etymology

Origin of pacemaker

First recorded in 1880–85; pace ¹ + maker

Explanation

A pacemaker is a medical device that controls a person's heartbeat. A patient only has a pacemaker implanted when his own heart isn't working well on its own. The human heart has a natural pacemaker that makes it beat at an appropriate rate to keep blood flowing throughout the body. Sometimes it doesn't work right, because of some kind of blockage or other problem that causes the heart to beat too slowly. In these cases, cardiologists — or heart doctors — will often surgically implant an electronic pacemaker as a replacement. Pacemaker research began in 1899, but it wasn't until 1958 that the first patients received these lifesaving devices.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

pacemaker pacemakers

"The pacemaker responded as it should," said Denmark's national team doctor Morten Boesen on Sunday.

From BBC ● Jun. 8, 2026

The other main type is connected directly to the heart and, like a pacemaker, also sends regular electrical signals if the heart is beating too slowly.

From BBC ● Jun. 8, 2026

The first wholly implantable pacemaker was placed in a dog in 1958 and in a human two years later.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Apr. 4, 2026

Eleven U.S. innovations, such as cornflakes, the implantable pacemaker and the microwave, were born from accidental discoveries.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Apr. 4, 2026

Only one customer had complained that he believed the blanket made his heart pacemaker malfunction, but there was no injury and no lawsuit.

From "Things Not Seen" by Andrew Clements

On its website, Compliant Technologies says it has tested the G.L.O.V.E on people with cardiovascular problems and pacemakers with no issues.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 13, 2026

Initially assisted by two pacemakers, who were both gone by the 1,000m mark, the Scot was peerless as he pressed on in pursuit of the wavelights on the curb of the track measuring his progress.

From BBC ● Jul. 18, 2026

At the time, pacemakers existed but were external and huge.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Apr. 4, 2026

It’s hundreds, thousands, and sometimes more than 100,000 people suing over life-changing physical harm from asbestos-laced baby powder, from NFL concussions, from pacemakers, hip implants, and other medical products.

From Slate ● Jan. 13, 2026

You might easily pick out these pacemakers, for they worked under the eye of the bosses, and they worked like men possessed.

From The Jungle by Upton Sinclair

Related Words

• favorite
• shoo-in