hemiplegia

noun

hemi·​ple·​gia ˌhe-mi-ˈplē-j(ē-)ə 

: total or partial paralysis of one side of the body that results from disease of or injury to the motor centers of the brain

hemiplegic

ˌhe-mi-ˈplē-jik 

adjective or noun

Did you know?

Hemi-, unlike semi, almost always appears in scientific or technical words, including medical terms such as this one. A hemiplegic, like a paraplegic (who has lost the use of both legs), has usually suffered brain damage, often from a wound or blood clot. Other conditions that affect one side of the body are hemihypertrophy (excessive growth on one side), hemiatrophy (wasting on one side), and hemiparesis (weakness or partial paralysis).

Examples of hemiplegia in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

It’s designed to identify what doctors call hemiplegia — weakness or paralysis on only one side of the body, a classic sign of stroke. —Eva Holland, New York Times, 1 Mar. 2023

Spastic hemiplegia generally affects a hand, arm, or leg on only one side of the body. —Lauren Sieben, SELF, 22 Mar. 2022

His conditions — alternating hemiplegia of childhood and Lennox-Gastaut Syndrome — involve paralysis and severe epilepsy. —Molly Duerig, azcentral, 14 Sep. 2019

Word History

Etymology

New Latin, from Middle Greek hēmiplēgia paralysis, from Greek hēmi- + -plēgia -plegia

First Known Use

1600, in the meaning defined above

Medical Definition

hemiplegia

noun

hemi·​ple·​gia ˌhem-i-ˈplē-j(ē-)ə 

: total or partial paralysis of one side of the body that results from disease of or injury to the motor centers of the brain