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

On April 10, 2025, Eric Dane revealed he had been diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). —Stephanie Sengwe, PEOPLE, 9 Nov. 2025

Kato was diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis in 2010. —Kelly Meyerhofer, jsonline.com, 4 Nov. 2025

Dane disclosed in April that he had been diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, a neurodegenerative disease that affects nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord and causes loss of muscle control. —Rick Porter, HollywoodReporter, 20 Oct. 2025

Gehrig had actually been forced to retire from playing earlier that season after he was diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, but remained the team’s honorary captain. —Rachel Cormack, Robb Report, 20 Oct. 2025

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