fibrillation

noun

fi·​bril·​la·​tion ˌfi-brə-ˈlā-shən  ˌfī- 

1

: an act or process of forming fibers or fibrils

2

a

: a muscular twitching involving individual muscle fibers acting without coordination

b

: very rapid irregular contractions of the muscle fibers of the heart resulting in a lack of synchronism between heartbeat and pulse

Examples of fibrillation in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Boston Scientific is crushing it and its competitors in atrial fibrillation (AFib). —Jim Cramer, CNBC, 19 Jan. 2025

Due to arrive by March, the $380 wearable even has FDA clearance to take an ECG and detect atrial fibrillation (AFib), features that aren't available on the Oura Ring 4 or the Samsung Galaxy Ring. —Andrew Gebhart, PCMAG, 10 Jan. 2025

More recent studies have also linked moderate alcohol consumption to certain forms of heart disease, including atrial fibrillation, a heart arrhythmia. —Roni Caryn Rabin, New York Times, 3 Jan. 2025

Then, the researchers tracked how many participants developed one of seven cardiovascular diseases, including stroke, heart attack, and atrial fibrillation, through 2019. —Maggie O'Neill, Health, 19 Dec. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1845, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Medical Definition

fibrillation

noun

fi·​bril·​la·​tion ˌfib-rə-ˈlā-shən  ˌfīb- 

1

: an act or process of forming fibers or fibrils

2

a

: a muscular twitching involving individual muscle fibers acting without coordination

b

: very rapid irregular contractions of the muscle fibers of the heart resulting in a lack of synchronism between heartbeat and pulse see atrial fibrillation, ventricular fibrillation