aneurysm

noun

an·​eu·​rysm ˈan-yə-ˌri-zəm 

variants or less commonly aneurism

: an abnormal blood-filled bulge of a blood vessel and especially an artery resulting from weakening (as from disease) of the vessel wall

aneurysmal

ˌan-yə-ˈriz-məl 

adjective

Examples of aneurysm in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The elder Biden also had a brain aneurysm in the late 1980s that almost killed him. —Chad De Guzman, Time, 19 May 2025

In some cases, an aneurysm may rupture and lead to bleeding in the brain.3 4. —Angelica Bottaro, Verywell Health, 14 May 2025

Last year, the Wichita, Kansas native began a GoFundMe for his mother, who suffered a brain aneurysm, according to the Springfield News-Leader. —Anna Lazarus Caplan, People.com, 23 Apr. 2025

Zhao and her colleagues think the untethered, robotic version of the milli-spinner will be able to swim directly inside blood vessels to treat blood clots, brain aneurysms, kidney stones, and other conditions. —Ani Freedman, Fortune, 27 June 2025

Word History

Etymology

Greek aneurysma, from aneurynein to dilate, from ana- + eurynein to stretch, from eurys wide — more at eury-

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for aneurysm

• alyssum
• cataclysm

Medical Definition

aneurysm

noun

an·​eu·​rysm

variants also aneurism

ˈan-yə-ˌriz-əm 

: an abnormal blood-filled dilatation of a blood vessel and especially an artery resulting from disease of the vessel wall

aneurysmal adjective

also aneurismal

ˌan-yə-ˈriz-məl 

aneurysmally

-ē 

adverb