heartburn

noun

heart·​burn ˈhärt-ˌbərn 

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

Other ways to combat heartburn and ward off aggravation caused by acid include medications, lifestyle changes, and reducing consumption of acidic fruits. —Angelica Bottaro, Verywell Health, 4 Nov. 2024

While the towers and cables are still in good shape, fixing the deck has caused heartburn. —Rachel Uranga, Los Angeles Times, 4 Nov. 2024

The same family of contaminants triggered past recalls of the heartburn drug Zantac, the diabetes drug metformin and the smoking cessation medication Chantix. —Taylor Ardrey, USA TODAY, 23 Oct. 2024

Common side effects from niacin include skin flushing (redness), stomach pain, diarrhea, heartburn, and vomiting.12 Nicotinamide is also available as a supplement and plays a similar role in the NAD pathway. —Kirstyn Hill, Pharmd, Mph, Health, 22 Oct. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

heartburn

noun

heart·​burn -ˌbərn 

: 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 

: 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