cardiovascular

adjective

car·​dio·​vas·​cu·​lar ˌkär-dē-ō-ˈva-skyə-lər How to pronounce cardiovascular (audio)
1
: of, relating to, or involving the heart and blood vessels
2
: used, designed, or performed to cause a temporary increase in heart rate
a cardiovascular workout
cardiovascularly adverb
cardiovascularly fit

Examples of cardiovascular in a Sentence

running, swimming, and other cardiovascular exercises
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.
The practical read for anyone scrolling product reviews, if you have been diagnosed with sleep apnea or cardiovascular disease, do not experiment with mouth tape. — Samantha Agate, Charlotte Observer, 24 Oct. 2026 For those with a sesame allergy, consuming products containing the seed can lead to anaphylaxis and cause breathing issues, cardiovascular distress, hives, and gastrointestinal problems. — Anne Ewbank, Sacbee.com, 23 Oct. 2026 Governments usually include fatalities from heatstroke but not necessarily those from cardiovascular and respiratory ailments that are exacerbated by extreme temperatures. — Raymond Zhong, New York Times, 22 Oct. 2026 Companies like CureMetrix use these AI tools to also look for calcium deposits in the breast arteries, which is linked to higher risk of cardiovascular events like strokes and heart attacks. — Maggie Ryan, Flow Space, 22 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for cardiovascular

Word History

Etymology

International Scientific Vocabulary

First Known Use

1854, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of cardiovascular was in 1854

Rhymes for cardiovascular

See All Rhymes for cardiovascular

Browse Nearby Words

cardiotonic
cardiovascular
cardioversion
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Cardiovascular.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/cardiovascular. Accessed 27 Oct. 2026.

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Kids Definition

cardiovascular

adjective
car·​dio·​vas·​cu·​lar ˌkärd-ē-ō-ˈvas-kyə-lər How to pronounce cardiovascular (audio)
: of, relating to, or involving the heart and blood vessels
cardiovascular disease

Medical Definition

cardiovascular

1 of 2 adjective
car·​dio·​vas·​cu·​lar -ˈvas-kyə-lər How to pronounce cardiovascular (audio)
1
: of, relating to, or involving the heart and blood vessels
cardiovascular disease
the cardiovascular system
2
: used, designed, or performed to cause a temporary increase in heart rate (as to improve heart function and reduce the risk of heart disease)
a cardiovascular workout
treadmills, stationary bicycles, and other cardiovascular equipment
cardiovascularly adverb
cardiovascularly fit

cardiovascular

2 of 2 noun
: a substance (as a drug) that affects the heart or blood vessels
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