noun
tachy
noun
1
Informal short form of tachycardia, an abnormally fast heart rate.
"The paramedic noted the patient was in tachy on the monitor."
"Her tachy resolved on its own once she calmed down and rested."
adj
1
Having an unusually fast heart rate; tachycardic.
"The nurse flagged him as tachy after his heart rate spiked past 120."
How to Use Tachy
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishMedical shorthand for a racing heart rate, or for being in that state.
Memory tip
You will mostly hear this in hospitals and ambulances as quick slang, not in everyday conversation.
Trace the full origin ↓
Easily confused with
Common pairings
go tachy
in tachy
a tachy patient
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The paramedic noted the patient was in _____ on the monitor.
Etymology
A clipped, informal version of medical terms built on the Greek prefix "tachy-", meaning "swift" or "fast" — the same root found in "tachycardia" and "tachometer."