heart failure

noun

1
: a condition in which the heart is unable to pump blood at an adequate rate or in adequate volume
2
: cessation of heartbeat : death

Examples of heart failure in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Francis, who had served as pope since 2013, died of a stroke and heart failure in April 2025. — Antonia Mortensen, CNN Money, 14 Oct. 2026 To diagnose heart failure, doctors often check blood levels of a hormone called BNP, which the heart releases under strain. — Amiran Baduashvili, The Conversation, 12 Oct. 2026 Research published in March by the American Heart Association found that visceral fat had a stronger association with the risk of heart failure than body mass index (BMI). — Sadie Chafe, FOXNews.com, 11 Oct. 2026 In amphibians, chytridiomycosis causes a wide variety of symptoms including skin damage, red skin, convulsions, and eventually leads to heart failure. — Laura Baisas, Popular Science, 24 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for heart failure

Word History

First Known Use

1574, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of heart failure was in 1574

Browse Nearby Words

hearten
heart failure
heartfelt
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Cite this Entry

“Heart failure.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/heart%20failure. Accessed 20 Oct. 2026.

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Medical Definition

heart failure

noun
1
: a condition in which the heart is unable to pump blood at an adequate rate or in adequate volume compare angina pectoris, congestive heart failure, coronary failure, heart attack
2
: cessation of heartbeat : death

More from Merriam-Webster on heart failure

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about heart failure

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