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

In April of last year, veteran actor Eric Dane shared that he had been diagnosed with ALS (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis). —Charisma Madarang, Rolling Stone, 9 Apr. 2026

Dane receives more screen time, but his dissolute, oft-drunk character is hard to watch knowing the actor’s offscreen battle with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, also known as Lou Gehrig's disease. —Carla Meyer, San Francisco Chronicle, 8 Apr. 2026

The actor died of of respiratory failure with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) as a contributing cause. —Natalie Sitek, Deadline, 7 Apr. 2026

After revealing he'd been diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) in early 2025, the actor died in February 2026, but not before filming scenes for the third season. —Randall Colburn, Entertainment Weekly, 30 Mar. 2026

Word History

Etymology

translation of French sclérose latérale amyotrophique; amyotrophique "marked by atrophy of a muscle" from a- a- entry 2 + myo- myo- + -trophique -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