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

Example Sentences

Recent Examples on the Web

In 2002, Jenny and Jon Steingart founded the Off Broadway incubator Ars Nova as a way of honoring Jenny’s brother, Gabriel Wiener, who in 1997 died of a brain aneurysm at the age of 26. —Robin Pogrebin, New York Times, 8 May 2023

The coil forms a blood clot, blocks blood flow, and keeps the aneurysm from bursting. —Alyssa Hui, Health, 12 Apr. 2023

Starring in films like Saving Private Ryan, Heat, True Romance, Black Hawk Down, and Pearl Harbor, Sizemore died on March 3 after suffering a brain aneurysm last month. —John Travolta, Danny Trejo, Vulture, 5 Mar. 2023

The best friends ran to support the Andrea C. Cameron Foundation, established by Tyler and his brothers to honor their mother, who tragically died of a brain aneurysm in 2020 at the age of 55. —Nancy Mattia, Peoplemag, 7 Nov. 2022

Their son and daughter, twins, were not quite 10 when her aneurysm ruptured. —Steve Lopez Columnist, Los Angeles Times, 16 Mar. 2022

Ray, the runner, refuses to have surgery to repair an aneurysm in his heart that could rupture at any moment. —Lincee Ray, EW.com, 12 May 2023

In 2002, shortly before taking the stage in his hometown of Orillia, Ontario, Mr. Lightfoot collapsed and was near death during a six-week coma because of an aneurysm in his abdominal aorta. —Kelsey Ables, Washington Post, 2 May 2023

In 2002, just before going onstage in Orillia, Mr. Lightfoot collapsed when an aneurysm in his abdominal aorta ruptured and left him near death. —William Grimes, New York Times, 2 May 2023

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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

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