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

However, the medical examiner found no evidence of a ruptured splenic artery aneurysm. —Cara Tabachnick, CBS News, 14 Apr. 2026

After the surgery, the doctor said that the patient died of a ruptured splenic artery aneurysm, the filing states. —Matt Lavietes, NBC news, 14 Apr. 2026

An abdominal aortic aneurysm occurs when part of the lower wall of the body’s main artery weakens, creating a bulging, enlarged area in the blood vessel. —Brianna Abbott, STAT, 7 Apr. 2026

His daughter, Brittany Tucker, died in 2019 after suffering a brain aneurysm at the age of 30. —Katy Golvala, Hartford Courant, 5 Apr. 2026

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