epilepsy

noun

ep·​i·​lep·​sy ˈe-pə-ˌlep-sē How to pronounce epilepsy (audio)
plural epilepsies
: any of various disorders marked by abnormal electrical discharges in the brain and typically manifested by sudden brief episodes of altered or diminished consciousness, involuntary movements, or convulsions

Examples of epilepsy in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Shouldn’t raising a child with debilitating epilepsy earn me some sort of exemption in the diagnosis category? — Jen Murphy Parker, Flow Space, 28 Oct. 2026 According to the lawsuit, which was first reported by the New York Times and filed on Tuesday, Amazon software engineer Bowen Wan had struggled with epilepsy since youth but had been able to manage her illness with medication. — Maggie Harrison Dupré, Futurism, 28 Oct. 2026 As diseases go, type 2 diabetes and epilepsy seem to have little in common. — Rowan Jacobsen, Scientific American, 20 Oct. 2026 The additional $25 million will support the center’s focus in the care and research of complex neurological conditions, including dementia, Alzheimer’s disease, epilepsy and Parkinson’s disease. — Luisa Yanez, Miami Herald, 9 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for epilepsy

Word History

Etymology

Middle English epilencie, from Anglo-French & Latin; Anglo-French epelempsie, modification of Late Latin epilepsia, from Greek epilēpsia, from epilambanein to seize, from epi- + lambanein to take, seize — more at latch

First Known Use

1543, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of epilepsy was in 1543

Phrases Containing epilepsy

Rhymes for epilepsy

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Browse Nearby Words

epilator
epilepsy
epilept-
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Cite this Entry

“Epilepsy.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/epilepsy. Accessed 1 Nov. 2026.

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Kids Definition

epilepsy

noun
ep·​i·​lep·​sy ˈep-ə-ˌlep-sē How to pronounce epilepsy (audio)
: a disorder marked by abnormal electrical discharges in the brain, by attacks of convulsions, and by loss of consciousness

Medical Definition

epilepsy

noun
ep·​i·​lep·​sy ˈep-ə-ˌlep-sē How to pronounce epilepsy (audio)
plural epilepsies
: any of various disorders marked by abnormal electrical discharges in the brain and typically manifested by sudden brief episodes of altered or diminished consciousness, involuntary movements, or convulsions see absence epilepsy, grand mal sense 1, petit mal sense 1 focal epilepsy, jacksonian epilepsy, myoclonic epilepsy, temporal lobe epilepsy

More from Merriam-Webster on epilepsy

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about epilepsy

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