English dictionary, thesaurus, translations & etymology
FreeDict.com
adjective Uncommon

cardiovascular

kah-dee-oh-VASK-yuu-luh

Cardiovascular (adjective) means relating to the heart and blood vessels together. Example: “Regular running improves cardiovascular fitness.”

adjective
1
Relating to the heart and blood vessels together.
"Regular running improves cardiovascular fitness."
"The study looked at cardiovascular risk factors like smoking and cholesterol."

How to Use Cardiovascular

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishDescribing anything to do with the heart and the network of blood vessels it pumps through.

Common pairings
cardiovascular disease cardiovascular exercise cardiovascular health
Study it as flashcards or scroll it in Flow — saved to your collection.
Test yourself on “cardiovascular” A quick quiz — meaning, synonyms & usage

Fill the Gap

Can you complete this real example?

Regular running improves _____ fitness.

Etymology

From cardio- ("heart") plus vascular ("relating to blood vessels").

Origin: Latin

Related Words

Rhymes for cardiovascular

See all rhymes for cardiovascular →

Frequently Asked Questions

What does “cardiovascular” mean?

The word “cardiovascular” means relating to the heart and blood vessels together. In plain terms, describing anything to do with the heart and the network of blood vessels it pumps through.

How do you pronounce “cardiovascular”?

“Cardiovascular” is pronounced kah-dee-oh-VASK-yuu-luh (/ˌkɑɹdi.oʊˈvæskjəlɚ/ in IPA).

How do you use “cardiovascular” in a sentence?

Here is “cardiovascular” used in a sentence: “Regular running improves cardiovascular fitness.”

What part of speech is “cardiovascular”?

“Cardiovascular” is an adjective.

Where does the word “cardiovascular” come from?

The word “cardiovascular” comes from Latin. From cardio- ("heart") plus vascular ("relating to blood vessels").

Is “cardiovascular” a common word?

“Cardiovascular” is an uncommon word in modern English.

What is the difference between "cardiovascular" and "cardiac"?

"Cardiac" relates specifically to the heart alone, while "cardiovascular" relates to the heart and blood vessels together as a combined system. A cardiac condition affects only the heart, whereas a cardiovascular condition can involve arteries and veins too.

Is "cardiovascular" only used in medical contexts?

No. While "cardiovascular" is common in medicine to describe the heart-and-blood-vessel system, it is also widely used in fitness and health contexts, such as "cardiovascular fitness" or "cardiovascular training."

People Also Searched

Definitions: FreeDict original editorial