heartburn

noun

heart·​burn ˈhärt-ˌbərn How to pronounce heartburn (audio)
plural heartburns
: a burning discomfort behind the lower part of the sternum due especially to the backward flow of the acidic contents of the stomach into the esophagus
In any given month, about one-quarter of Americans suffer from heartburn, which is caused by reflux, or backward flow, of stomach acid into the esophagus.Clyde M. Burnham
Heartburn—painful reflux of stomach acid—can occur in a person with a perfectly intact esophagus.Paul G. Donohue
see acid reflux

Examples of heartburn in a Sentence

I like spicy food, but it gives me heartburn.
Recent Examples on the Web Trump’s 2016 campaign and presidency had given some in golf heartburn. Alan Blinder, New York Times, 10 Aug. 2023 Iron supplements can come with some unpleasant side effects, like nausea, heartburn, pain, constipation, and diarrhea, but they can be mitigated by choosing a slow-release formulation. Casey Seiden, Parents, 26 Feb. 2024 Doing so could increase heartburn symptoms and interfere with sleep. Katia Hetter, CNN, 22 Feb. 2024 Symptoms include a persistent cough, heartburn, and nausea. Mark Gurarie, Health, 15 Feb. 2024 Prescription medications treating schizophrenia, anxiety, blood pressure and heartburn and an antibiotic were also found in her system. Nardine Saad, Los Angeles Times, 13 Feb. 2024 The most common signs of acid reflux include heartburn and regurgitation. Mark Gurarie, Health, 15 Feb. 2024 Some drugs, such as NSAIDs (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs), can irritate the lining of the stomach, causing bloating, gas, heartburn, and even bleeding ulcers. Avery Hurt, Discover Magazine, 10 Jan. 2024 Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) can cause pain in the upper stomach and lower chest, known as heartburn. Amanda Gardner, Health, 29 Oct. 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'heartburn.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of heartburn was in the 15th century

Dictionary Entries Near heartburn

Cite this Entry

“Heartburn.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/heartburn. Accessed 18 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

heartburn

noun
heart·​burn -ˌbərn How to pronounce heartburn (audio)
: a burning discomfort seeming to occur in the area of the heart and usually due to spasms which pass acid from the stomach into the esophagus

Medical Definition

heartburn

noun
heart·​burn -ˌbərn How to pronounce heartburn (audio)
: a burning discomfort behind the lower part of the sternum due especially to the backward flow of the acidic contents of the stomach into the esophagus

called also cardialgia, pyrosis

see acid reflux compare water brash

More from Merriam-Webster on heartburn

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