Embolism is a word with two very different meanings. In medicine, it refers to a blockageSomething that stops normal flow through a tube or passage. in a blood vesselA tube in the body that carries blood. caused by material such as a clot or air bubble. In older calendar usage, it can mean an extra insertionA thing added or placed into something else. into a calendar.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-29. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Pronunciation
AI-generated pronunciation audio (OpenAI).
Accent: General American English
IPA: /ˈɛmbəˌlɪzəm/
Easy pronunciation: EM-buh-LIZ-əm (approximate spelling).
Stress: Stress falls on the first syllable, with secondary stress on the third syllable.
Medical noun: a blockage in a blood vessel caused by a travelling clot, air bubble, or other particle.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: uncertain — manual review needed. Checked: 2026-10-29. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Embolism Meaning
a blockage in a blood vessel caused by a travelling clot or other material
Part of speech: noun
Definition: occlusion of a blood vessel by an embolus, such as a loose clot, air bubble, or other particle
Example: The scan showed an embolism in one of the arteries leading to the lungs.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-29. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Other Meanings of Embolism
Meaning 2
an extra day, week, or month added to a calendar
Part of speech: noun
Definition: an insertion into a calendar
Example: intercalation
Synonyms for this meaning:
- intercalation — A direct synonym for the calendar sense.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: inaccurate — correction needed. Checked: 2026-10-29. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Embolism Synonyms
an insertion into a calendar
- intercalation
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: uncertain — manual review needed. Checked: 2026-10-29. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Common Mistakes
- Do not confuse embolism with embolus. An embolus is the thing that travels through the blood; an embolism is the blockage it causes.
- The medical sense is the common modern meaning; the calendar sense is rare and technical.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-29. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the meaning of embolism?
Most commonly, embolism means a blockage in a blood vessel caused by a clot or other material moving through the bloodstream. It can also refer to an insertion into a calendar in older technical usage.
What are synonyms for embolism?
For the calendar sense, intercalation is a synonym. For the medical sense, there are not many exact one-word synonyms; the closest related word is embolus, but it is not the same thing.
Is embolism the same as embolus?
No. An embolus is the object that travels and causes a blockage, while an embolism is the blockage itself.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-29. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
