Meaning & use
defibrillation
Last updated
Meaning
noununcountablemedical
The use of an electric shock to stop a dangerous, uneven heartbeat so that the heart can return to a normal rhythm.
Grammar: Uncountable: defibrillation can save lives.
Patterns
- defibrillation of someone
- early defibrillation
Quick defibrillation gave the patient a much better chance of survival.
The paramedics prepared for defibrillation as soon as they arrived.
Training in CPR and defibrillation is common among lifeguards.
Common combinations
- early defibrillation
- Early defibrillation greatly improves survival after cardiac arrest.
- attempt defibrillation
- The doctor attempted defibrillation twice.
- public access defibrillation
- Public access defibrillation programs place machines in airports.
- defibrillation and CPR
- Defibrillation and CPR are taught in first aid classes.
Synonyms and how they differ
- cardioversion
- Cardioversion uses a timed shock for a faster but organized rhythm, while defibrillation is for chaotic rhythms and cardiac arrest.
- shock treatment
- Shock treatment is a vague everyday phrase and can also refer to other medical treatments.
Word family
- defibrillator noun
- the machine that gives the shock
- defibrillate verb
- to give an electric shock to the heart
- fibrillation noun
- rapid, uneven twitching of the heart muscle
Commonly confused: defibrillation or defibrillator?
defibrillation vs defibrillator
The defibrillator is the machine, while defibrillation is the process of using it.
Practice
What does defibrillation try to achieve?
Choose one answer.
Defibrillation delivers a shock to the heart to correct a dangerous rhythm. The other options relate to different treatments.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “defibrillation”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.