cardiopulmonary resuscitation: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C2Medical/Technical, but widely known in public discourse (first aid, emergency training).
Quick answer
What does “cardiopulmonary resuscitation” mean?
A life‑saving emergency procedure for someone whose heart has stopped beating and/or who has stopped breathing, involving chest compressions and often artificial ventilation to try to restore circulation and breathing.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A life‑saving emergency procedure for someone whose heart has stopped beating and/or who has stopped breathing, involving chest compressions and often artificial ventilation to try to restore circulation and breathing.
The formal technique and protocol (often abbreviated CPR) used in medical emergencies, first aid, and clinical settings to manually preserve brain function until further measures can restore spontaneous blood circulation and breathing.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant lexical differences. Both use the full term and the abbreviation 'CPR'. The procedural guidelines (e.g., compression-to-breath ratios) may be updated by different national bodies (UK Resuscitation Council vs. American Heart Association).
Connotations
Identical in both variants: urgent, medical, life‑saving.
Frequency
The abbreviation 'CPR' is far more frequent in everyday speech in both regions. The full term is used in formal training, certification, and medical documentation.
Grammar
How to Use “cardiopulmonary resuscitation” in a Sentence
perform ~ on someoneadminister ~someone requires ~~ is initiated~ was givenVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “cardiopulmonary resuscitation” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The paramedics decided to resuscitate the patient immediately.
- They began to perform CPR.
American English
- The EMTs started CPR right away.
- We need to resuscitate him now.
adverb
British English
- He was resuscitated successfully.
- CPR was performed correctly.
American English
- They acted promptly and resuscitated the victim.
- The procedure was done properly.
adjective
British English
- He is CPR‑trained.
- They followed the resuscitation protocol.
American English
- She is certified in CPR.
- The resuscitation efforts were successful.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare, except in workplace safety policies (e.g., 'All staff must complete CPR training').
Academic
Used in medical, nursing, and physiology textbooks and research papers on emergency medicine.
Everyday
Common in news reports, first‑aid conversations, and public health campaigns ('Learn CPR to save a life').
Technical
Precise term in clinical protocols, emergency medical services (EMS) documentation, and certification courses.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “cardiopulmonary resuscitation”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “cardiopulmonary resuscitation”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “cardiopulmonary resuscitation”
- Mispronouncing 'pulmonary' as /ˈpʌl.mən.ri/ instead of /ˈpʊl.mə.ner.i/ or /ˈpʌl.mə.nər.i/.
- Using 'cardiopulmonary resuscitation' as a verb (e.g., 'They cardiopulmonary resuscitated him') – instead use 'perform CPR on' or 'resuscitate'.
- Confusing with 'defibrillation' (using an AED) – CPR is the manual procedure, often done before/alongside defibrillation.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
For trained rescuers, yes – rescue breaths are part of standard CPR. However, for untrained bystanders, compression‑only CPR (hands‑only) is widely recommended as it's simpler and still effective.
CPR is a manual procedure (chest compressions ± breaths) that maintains some blood flow. A defibrillator (AED) delivers an electric shock to try to restore a normal heart rhythm. They are often used together in a resuscitation attempt.
In many countries, Good Samaritan laws protect those who provide reasonable emergency assistance, including CPR, in good faith. It's generally better to act than to do nothing in a life‑threatening situation.
Because it aims to support both the cardiac (heart) and pulmonary (lung) systems – the heart's pumping action and the lungs' oxygen exchange, which have both stopped in cardiac arrest.
A life‑saving emergency procedure for someone whose heart has stopped beating and/or who has stopped breathing, involving chest compressions and often artificial ventilation to try to restore circulation and breathing.
Cardiopulmonary resuscitation is usually medical/technical, but widely known in public discourse (first aid, emergency training). in register.
Cardiopulmonary resuscitation: in British English it is pronounced /ˌkɑː.di.əʊˌpʌl.mə.nər.i rɪˌsʌs.ɪˈteɪ.ʃən/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌkɑːr.di.oʊˌpʊl.mə.ner.i rɪˌsʌs.ɪˈteɪ.ʃən/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Someone is a candidate for CPR.”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
CARDIO (heart) + PULMONARY (lungs) + RESUSCITATION (reviving) = reviving the heart and lungs.
Conceptual Metaphor
LIFE IS A MACHINE THAT CAN BE RESTARTED (e.g., 'restarting the heart').
Practice
Quiz
What is the primary goal of cardiopulmonary resuscitation?