What does palpitation mean?
Palpitation is a noun meaning a rapid, forceful, or irregular beating of the heart. A person may notice it as a fluttering, pounding, racing, or uncomfortable movement in the chest, and doctors may use the term when the heartbeat deviates noticeably from its usual rhythm. The word can also describe a general feeling of trembling or vibrating, especially in figurative language. Palpitations are often associated with anxiety, exertion, caffeine, fever, or other temporary circumstances, but persistent or unexplained episodes can require medical assessment. In everyday use, the phrase heart palpitations is especially common, while the singular form often emphasizes one particular episode. As a vocabulary word, palpitation is useful because it gives a precise name to the experience of suddenly becoming aware of one’s own heartbeat, which can be physically alarming, emotionally charged, or both.
An episode of rapid, forceful, or irregular beating of the heart, noticed as a fluttering, pounding, or racing sensation in the chest.
"She experienced a brief palpitation while waiting for the results."
The singular commonly refers to one episode; the plural is especially frequent in the medical expression heart palpitations.
A trembling or vibrating sensation, particularly a figurative feeling of nervous excitement or agitation.
"A palpitation of excitement ran through the room when the lights came up."
This figurative sense is less common than the medical one and usually occurs in literary or expressive contexts.
The plural is common in the medical phrase heart palpitations, referring to recurring or noticeable episodes. The singular is often used for one particular occurrence.
"She has been experiencing heart palpitations in the evening."
Palpitation is the body’s own heartbeat made suddenly noticeable, turning a normally automatic rhythm into an alarming sensation.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does palpitation come from?
Palpitation comes through English from Latin palpitatio, a noun formed from palpitar, meaning to throb or tremble. The Latin verb is related to palpare, meaning to touch or feel, and palpate, which preserves the sense of examining by touch. English borrowed the word in the medical sense during the 17th century, and its figurative use for nervous or emotional trembling developed later.
Related word forms
How palpitation is actually used
In medical contexts, palpitation usually refers to an episode in which the heartbeat feels unusually fast, forceful, or irregular. The plural form is common in expressions such as heart palpitations. Figurative uses are less frequent and often convey nervous excitement or agitation.