English Reference

Word

cardiac

Phoneticscar·diac

US/ˈkɑɹdiˌæk/

UK/kˈɑːdɪˌæk/

Definitions

01relating to the heart

B2 · Medicine

adj. related to the heart or heart health.

adj. pertaining to the heart as an organ or to the medical study of the heart.

“The patient was rushed to the hospital after suffering a cardiac arrest.”

“Regular exercise and a balanced diet are essential for maintaining optimal cardiac health and reducing the risk of long-term cardiovascular issues.”

Technical

Synonyms

02relating to the stomach opening

C2 · Medicine

adj. related to the cardia, which is the opening where the stomach meets the throat.

adj. pertaining to the cardia of the stomach; often used in clinical descriptions of the upper digestive tract.

“The doctor examined the cardiac region of the stomach for signs of irritation.”

“The surgeon noted a small lesion near the cardiac sphincter, necessitating a more detailed endoscopic evaluation of the upper gastric region.”

Technical

Synonyms

cardial

03a person with heart disease

C1 · Medicine

n. a person who has a heart condition or heart disease.

n. a person suffering from heart disease or a chronic cardiac condition.

“The new wing of the clinic was designed specifically for the care of cardiacs.”

“The study followed a group of elderly cardiacs to determine the efficacy of the new medication over a five-year period.”

Technical · Formal

Synonyms

heart patient

Real-World Examples

“Audio from police dispatchers and crews who responded to the address said they were responding to a "cardiac arrest" and detailed their efforts to resuscitate the woman after a possible "overdose".”
BBC News · 17 Aug 2026
“The first symptom of a sudden cardiac death can be, as in the case of Max, that the heart simply stops.”
The Guardian · 10 Aug 2026

Etymology

From Middle French cardiaque, from Latin cardiacus, from Ancient Greek καρδιακός (kardiakós, “relating to the heart”), from καρδία (kardía, “heart”); by surface analysis, cardi- + -ac.

Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

Collocations

cardiac arrest

Domains

BiologyMedicine

This entry

Level
C1 · Advanced
Frequency
Frequent
Updated

Scan code

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English Reference