What does heartburn mean?
Heartburn most commonly names a burning sensation felt in the chest, usually behind the breastbone. It is often associated with acid reflux, when stomach contents flow back into the esophagus, and may occur after meals or at night. Heartburn can also be used figuratively to describe strong feelings of resentment, bitterness, or discontent, as in a decision that causes heartburn among those affected. In this second sense, the word suggests a lingering emotional irritation rather than ordinary annoyance. The medical and figurative meanings both rely on the idea of a burning sensation, making heartburn especially useful when describing either physical discomfort or moral indignation. Although it is widely used in everyday speech, the word also has a precise relationship with medical terms such as acid reflux and pyrosis.
A burning sensation in the chest, usually behind the breastbone, commonly associated with reflux of stomach contents into the esophagus. Figuratively, it means bitter resentment or discontent.
"The spicy sauce gave him terrible heartburn."
Usually an uncountable noun when referring to the condition; the plural is uncommon.
To feel heartburn; figuratively, to experience bitter resentment or discontent.
"Many residents heartburn over the proposal to close the local hospital."
The verbal use is relatively uncommon and is more frequent in the figurative sense.
The plural is uncommon and generally refers to separate episodes of heartburn.
"The recurring heartburns kept him awake for much of the night."
Heartburn can mean a burning in your chest or the figurative burning feeling of resentment—and the word’s history makes that double meaning especially memorable.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of heartburn
Heartburn is an English compound formed from heart and burn, both of which are inherited from Old English and ultimately trace their histories to Germanic roots. Its literal sense reflects the sensation of burning around the heart, while the figurative sense develops from the idea of emotional disturbance, bitterness, or resentment. The compound is cognate in spirit with the shared Germanic histories of heart and hearth, while burn supplies the combustion metaphor.
Related word forms
How heartburn is actually used
As a noun, heartburn is usually treated as an uncountable condition, although plural forms occur when referring to separate episodes. The figurative sense is common in formal and informal English. As a verb, heartburn is relatively uncommon and is especially used in the figurative sense.
Easily confused with heartburn
Heartburn is the burning symptom, whereas acid reflux is the medical condition in which stomach acid flows back into the esophagus and can cause that symptom.
Indigestion is a broader term for difficulty digesting food and may include heartburn, nausea, or abdominal discomfort, while heartburn specifically refers to a burning chest sensation.