cardiac arrest

noun

: temporary or permanent cessation of the heartbeat

Examples of cardiac arrest 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.
More than ninety per cent of people who experience cardiac arrests outside of hospitals do not survive, they were told. — Helen Simpson, New Yorker, 30 Aug. 2026 Near-death experiences are frequently triggered by a life-threatening event, such as cardiac arrest, traumatic brain injury or a car accident. — Michael Collins, USA Today, 30 Aug. 2026 The girls have faced numerous health challenges since being born prematurely at 30 weeks, including brain bleeds, cardiac arrest and stroke, and have been in and out of hospitals for much of their lives. — Erin Clack, PEOPLE, 29 Aug. 2026 In 2025, a Kentucky man was killed after he was hit 27 times with a GLOVE by jail employees, on top of 13 jabs from a taser, which ultimately sent him into cardiac arrest. — Joe Wilkins, Futurism, 27 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for cardiac arrest

Word History

First Known Use

1873, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of cardiac arrest was in 1873

Rhymes for cardiac arrest

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Browse Nearby Words

cardiac
cardiac arrest
cardiac catheterization
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Cite this Entry

“Cardiac arrest.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/cardiac%20arrest. Accessed 1 Sep. 2026.

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Medical Definition

cardiac arrest

noun
: abrupt temporary or permanent cessation of the heartbeat (as from ventricular fibrillation or asystole)

called also sudden cardiac arrest

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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