amyotrophic lateral sclerosis

noun

amyo·​tro·​phic lateral sclerosis ˌā-ˌmī-ə-ˈtrō-fik-  -ˈträ- 

: a rare progressive degenerative fatal disease affecting the motor neurons, usually beginning in middle age, and characterized especially by increasing and spreading muscular weakness and atrophy

—abbreviation ALS

called also Lou Gehrig's disease

Examples of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

People with cervical spinal cord injuries or amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) may be eligible. —Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 4 Sep. 2025

Hollister — a commercial real estate broker from Chagrin Falls, Ohio — was diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) in early 2022. —Vanessa Etienne, PEOPLE, 4 Sep. 2025

The boys' births were a bit bittersweet, though, as Schmidtberger's mother-in-law had recently died of complications from amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, or ALS. —Madison E. Goldberg, People.com, 1 Sep. 2025

Parekh had watched his father die of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, the progressive neurological disease commonly known as ALS or Lou Gehrig’s disease. —Kaitlin Sullivan, NBC news, 28 Aug. 2025

Word History

Etymology

a- entry 2 + my- + -trophic

First Known Use

1875, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis

• acanthosis
• acidosis
• alkalosis
• amaurosis
• ankylosis
• asbestosis
• brucellosis
• cyanosis
• dermatosis
• diagnosis
• ecchymosis
• exostosis

Medical Definition

amyotrophic lateral sclerosis

noun

: a rare fatal progressive degenerative disease that affects pyramidal motor neurons, usually begins in middle age, and is characterized especially by increasing and spreading muscular weakness

—abbreviation ALS

called also Lou Gehrig's disease