vertigo

noun

ver·​ti·​go ˈvər-ti-ˌgō 

plural vertigoes or vertigos

1

a

: a sensation of motion in which the individual or the individual's surroundings seem to whirl dizzily

b

: a dizzy confused state of mind

2

: disordered vertiginous movement as a symptom of disease in lower animals

also : a disease (such as gid) causing this

Examples of vertigo in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

And the 24/7 noise pollution can lead to headaches, lost sleep, vertigo, and other health issues. — Liz Krueger, New York Daily News, 20 June 2026

Hydrogen sulfide, if you’re exposed long enough, can cause upper airway irritation, nausea, headaches, vertigo, confusion and even memory loss. — Bill Kearney, Sun Sentinel, 12 June 2026

Career vertigo is the disorienting feeling that the assumptions and strategies that once guided your professional life no longer provide the same sense of stability or direction. — Caroline Castrillon, Forbes.com, 29 June 2026

The Climb’s producers spent around three days shooting sweeping aerial shots of London, but the vertigo-inducing footage only served as a metaphor for the free-fall the film experienced within weeks of pre-production. — Jake Kanter, Deadline, 3 June 2026

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Latin vertigin-, vertigo, from vertere to turn

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing vertigo

• benign paroxysmal positional vertigo
• benign positional vertigo

Rhymes for vertigo

• afterglow
• akimbo
• albino
• aliquot
• allegro
• amigo
• apropos
• audio
• bungalow
• calico
• calypso
• cameo

Kids Definition

vertigo

noun

ver·​ti·​go ˈvərt-i-ˌgō 

plural vertigoes or vertigos

1

: a sensation in which a person or a person's surroundings seem to whirl dizzily

2

: a confused or bewildered state of mind

Medical Definition

vertigo

noun

ver·​ti·​go ˈvərt-i-ˌgō 

plural vertigoes or vertigos

1

: a sensation of motion which is associated with various disorders (as of the inner ear) and in which the individual or the individual's surroundings seem to whirl dizzily see objective vertigo, subjective vertigo compare dizziness

2

: disordered vertiginous movement as a symptom of disease in lower animals

also : a disease (as gid) causing this