What does coronary mean?
Coronary is an adjective relating to the arteries that supply oxygen-rich blood to the heart muscle itself. The term comes from the Latin corona, meaning crown or wreath, because these arteries encircle the heart like a crown. In everyday medicine, 'coronary' appears most often in phrases such as coronary artery disease, coronary bypass surgery, and coronary care unit, all describing conditions or treatments affecting the heart's blood supply. Narrowed or blocked coronary arteries can starve the heart of oxygen and cause chest pain or a heart attack. Informally, especially in British English, 'a coronary' serves as a noun meaning a heart attack, as in 'he nearly had a coronary'. Because cardiovascular disease remains among the leading causes of death worldwide, 'coronary' is one of the most frequently encountered medical words in news reporting, health advice, and clinical settings. Its precise, technical register contrasts sharply with its occasional informal use for a sudden cardiac emergency.
Relating to the arteries that supply blood to the heart muscle.
"She was diagnosed with coronary artery disease at just forty-two."
Used almost exclusively in medical contexts.
A blockage of blood flow to the heart; informally, a heart attack.
"Doctors confirmed he had suffered a massive coronary."
Informal usage, more common in British English; formal medicine prefers terms such as myocardial infarction.
Applies only to the noun sense referring to heart attacks or coronary blockages.
"The ward treated several coronaries that night."
Your coronary arteries earned their name by literally forming a crown around your heart — corona is Latin for 'wreath' or 'crown'.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of coronary
Coronary comes from the Latin corona, meaning 'crown' or 'wreath', via the New Latin anatomical term coronarius ('of or belonging to a crown'), adopted into English medical vocabulary in the early 17th century when anatomists described the arteries encircling the heart like a crown. It shares this root with words such as corona, coronation, and coronet, all tracing back to Latin and ultimately Greek korōnē, meaning curved object or wreath.
How coronary is actually used
Almost always used in medical contexts. As a standalone noun, 'a coronary' is informal shorthand for a heart attack, common in British English. The adjective dominates in clinical language such as 'coronary artery' or 'coronary care unit'.
Easily confused with coronary
'Cornery' is a rare informal adjective describing something full of corners, whereas 'coronary' relates to the heart's arteries.
'Coronary' derives from 'corona' meaning crown, but refers specifically to arteries encircling the heart like a crown, not a royal crown itself.