hot flash: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
MediumNeutral to Medical/Healthcare (colloquial in everyday contexts)
Quick answer
What does “hot flash” mean?
A sudden, brief feeling of intense heat in the face and upper body, often accompanied by sweating and flushing, typically associated with menopause.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A sudden, brief feeling of intense heat in the face and upper body, often accompanied by sweating and flushing, typically associated with menopause.
Any sudden, temporary sensation of heat, often linked to hormonal changes, stress, or certain medical conditions. Can be used metaphorically for a brief, intense emotional or physical surge.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The term is used and understood in both varieties. 'Hot flush' is the more standard term in British English medical contexts, while 'hot flash' is dominant in American English. In informal British speech, 'hot flash' is increasingly common.
Connotations
No significant difference in connotation. Both terms denote the same physiological symptom.
Frequency
'Hot flash' is more frequent in AmE. 'Hot flush' is more frequent in BrE, though 'hot flash' is recognised and used.
Grammar
How to Use “hot flash” in a Sentence
[Subject] has/experiences/suffers from hot flashes.A hot flash [verb: came over/swept over/triggered] [Subject].[Subject] was hit by a hot flash.Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “hot flash” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- She started to hot-flush in the middle of the meeting. (informal)
American English
- I hot-flashed twice during the lecture. (informal)
adjective
British English
- She's going through a hot-flash phase. (informal, attributive noun used adjectivally)
American English
- Hot-flash frequency can be reduced with lifestyle changes. (attributive noun used adjectivally)
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare, unless in specific contexts like healthcare product development or HR discussions on workplace accommodations.
Academic
Common in medical, nursing, and public health literature discussing menopause, endocrinology, or aging.
Everyday
Common in conversations about health, aging, and personal experiences, especially among middle-aged and older adults.
Technical
Used in clinical medicine and research; often part of the phrase "vasomotor symptoms (VMS)" which includes hot flashes/flushes and night sweats.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “hot flash”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “hot flash”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “hot flash”
- Incorrect: 'hot flesh'. Correct: 'hot flash'.
- Incorrect: using it as a verb ('I hot-flashed'). While this informal usage exists, the standard phrasing is 'I had a hot flash'.
- Incorrect: confusing 'hot flash' (menopausal) with 'hot flush' (general redness, e.g., from embarrassment). In practice, they overlap, but context clarifies.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, they refer to the same physiological symptom. 'Hot flash' is more common in American English, while 'hot flush' is preferred in British English, especially in medical contexts.
Yes. While most common in menopausal women, men can experience hot flashes due to hormone changes, such as during androgen deprivation therapy for prostate cancer.
Common triggers include stress, caffeine, alcohol, spicy foods, hot drinks, warm environments, and tight clothing. Triggers vary significantly between individuals.
A single episode usually lasts between 30 seconds and 5 minutes, though the duration and frequency can vary widely from person to person.
A sudden, brief feeling of intense heat in the face and upper body, often accompanied by sweating and flushing, typically associated with menopause.
Hot flash is usually neutral to medical/healthcare (colloquial in everyday contexts) in register.
Hot flash: in British English it is pronounced /ˈhɒt ˌflæʃ/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈhɑt ˌflæʃ/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Like a hot flash (metaphorical for something sudden and intense, though not common)”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a camera's HOT light FLASHing suddenly – it's a brief, intense burst of heat.
Conceptual Metaphor
HEAT IS A SUDDEN EVENT / THE BODY IS A FURNACE (with faulty temperature control).
Practice
Quiz
Which of the following is the most precise medical synonym for 'hot flash'?