epilepsy

noun

ep·​i·​lep·​sy ˈe-pə-ˌlep-sē 

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

But when he gets posted to another town, Giorgio becomes involved with Fosca (Brittney Brown), the cousin of his commanding officer, an obsessive, hyper-intense woman disfigured by epilepsy and capable of love on a level that Giorgio had not previously conceived as even humanly possible. —Chris Jones, Chicago Tribune, 4 Aug. 2025

Boyce died in 2019 at just 20 years old from a seizure caused by epilepsy. —Mekishana Pierre, EW.com, 31 July 2025

One of my first patients to be affected by the disenrollment crisis was a child with epilepsy. —Rachel Pearson, New Yorker, 13 July 2025

For its first human surgery, the company partnered with two University of Michigan surgeons performing an epilepsy resection surgery, a procedure that removes or disconnects the area of the brain responsible for seizures. —Karoline Leonard, Austin American Statesman, 2 July 2025

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

Phrases Containing epilepsy

• anti-epilepsy
• grand mal epilepsy

Rhymes for epilepsy

• catalepsy
• narcolepsy

Kids Definition

epilepsy

noun

ep·​i·​lep·​sy ˈep-ə-ˌlep-sē 

: 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 

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