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.
"Taking a daily multivitamin might be associated with improved brain function in older adults, a new study says, and the benefit appears to be greater for those with a history of cardiovascular disease."
— Jacqueline Howard, Study finds potential link between daily multivitamin and improved cognition in older adults (2022)
"Regular running improves cardiovascular fitness."
"The study looked at cardiovascular risk factors like smoking and cholesterol."
"Doctors recommend swimming or cycling as good cardiovascular exercise for people of all ages."
"As another interleukin 12/23 antagonist, briakinumab, was withdrawn from further development in part due to concerns about cardiovascular safety, discussion has also emerged on cardiovascular safety of ustekinumab."
— , Patient Preferences for Biologicals in Psoriasis: Top Priority of Safety for Cardiovascular Patients (2015)
How to use cardiovascular
Learner’s notesIn 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
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Regular running improves _____ fitness.
Etymology
From cardio- ("heart") plus vascular ("relating to blood vessels").
Synonyms
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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."
