coronary: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
B2Technical/Medical, but common in general use due to health awareness.
Quick answer
What does “coronary” mean?
Relating to or affecting the arteries that supply blood to the heart muscle itself.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
Relating to or affecting the arteries that supply blood to the heart muscle itself.
Also used informally as a noun to mean a heart attack (short for coronary thrombosis). Can refer more broadly to anything encircling like a crown, in its anatomical sense.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in core meaning. Both use the informal noun 'coronary' for heart attack.
Connotations
Identical medical connotations. Slightly more frequent in everyday UK English for the nominal form (e.g., 'take a coronary').
Frequency
Equally common in both varieties due to global medical terminology.
Grammar
How to Use “coronary” in a Sentence
Adjective + noun (coronary artery)Have/suffer + a coronary (noun)Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “coronary” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- N/A – not a verb
American English
- N/A – not a verb
adverb
British English
- N/A – not an adverb
American English
- N/A – not an adverb
adjective
British English
- The surgeon performed a coronary artery bypass graft.
- He was admitted to the coronary care unit.
American English
- She has a family history of coronary disease.
- The patient underwent a coronary angiogram.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare, except in health insurance or pharmaceutical contexts.
Academic
Common in medical, biological, and public health research.
Everyday
Common in discussions of health, family history, and news.
Technical
Core term in cardiology, anatomy, and physiology.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “coronary”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “coronary”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “coronary”
- Using 'coronary' as a synonym for 'heart' in all contexts (e.g., 'coronary beat' is wrong).
- Misspelling as 'coronory'.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
In modern English, yes, almost exclusively. Its root means 'crown-like,' and it refers specifically to the arteries encircling the heart. Other 'coronary' structures in anatomy (e.g., in teeth) are highly technical.
'Coronary' is more specific, referring only to the heart's own blood supply. 'Cardiovascular' is broader, encompassing the entire heart and blood vessel system (e.g., arteries, veins).
No, 'coronary' is never used as a verb. It is solely a noun and adjective.
It's understandable but not the most standard medical collocation. 'Heart attack,' 'myocardial infarction,' or simply 'a coronary' (informal noun) are more common.
Relating to or affecting the arteries that supply blood to the heart muscle itself.
Coronary is usually technical/medical, but common in general use due to health awareness. in register.
Coronary: in British English it is pronounced /ˈkɒr.ən.ər.i/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈkɔːr.ə.ner.i/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “The big one (informal for major heart attack)”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a CROWN (from Latin 'corona') sitting on top of the heart; the coronary arteries encircle the heart like a crown.
Conceptual Metaphor
HEART IS A MACHINE / PIPES: Coronary arteries are the essential fuel lines to the heart's engine.
Practice
Quiz
In informal English, 'He had a coronary' means: