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

My uncle in Korea, who’d been complaining about his vision, was hospitalized after an aneurysm and a series of strokes. — E. Tammy Kim, New Yorker, 15 Aug. 2026

The fate of Duke, diagnosed with a life-threatening ascending aortic aneurysm, is ambiguous. — Glenn Whipp, Los Angeles Times, 14 Aug. 2026

Askew’s uncle said his nephew was partially paralyzed by the gunshot and that blood clots in his legs led to an aneurysm. — Colin Mixson, New York Daily News, 13 Aug. 2026

Now, after another potentially fatal aortic aneurysm and ambulance ride, the doctors clustered around his hospital bed said the fix involved two more major, risky operations. — Kim Clark, CBS News, 13 Aug. 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

• threesome

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