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 Brain Aneurysm Foundation notes that one in fifty people harbors an aneurysm, which can produce migraine-like symptoms. —The New Yorker, New Yorker, 29 Sep. 2025

Escobedo, then 40, had suffered a brain aneurysm in 1994, with ensuing seizures. —Neal Rubin, Freep.com, 20 Sep. 2025

His wife of 48 years, Maureen, died in 2017 of a brain aneurysm at age 70. —Mike Barnes, HollywoodReporter, 16 Sep. 2025

The areas are kidney failure, knee replacement, hip fracture, heart attack, congestive heart failure, hip replacement, pneumonia and abdominal aortic aneurysm repair. —Melinda Moore, Chicago Tribune, 2 Sep. 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