dystonia

noun

dys·​to·​nia dis-ˈtō-nē-ə 

: any of various conditions (such as Parkinson's disease and torticollis) characterized by abnormalities of movement and muscle tone

dystonic

dis-ˈtä-nik 

adjective

Examples of dystonia in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

His dystonia only affects his right hand, so van Dongen has been relearning the sport with his left, attempting to become the first professional darts player to throw with his right and left hand. —Kansas City Star, 24 June 2026

In a recent video statement, Saliers and creative partner Amy Ray shared that the former is dealing with a pair of incurable conditions — cervical dystonia and an essential tremor — that have affected the Connecticut native’s ability to sing clearly and constantly. —Dave Gil De Rubio, Daily News, 6 May 2026

Spasmodic dysphonia, also known as laryngeal dystonia, is a neurological speech disorder that impacts the ability to speak and control the voice. —Mary Walrath-Holdridge, USA Today, 23 Apr. 2026

One is called cervical dystonia with torticollis, which basically is in the part of my brain that controls movement. —Chris Willman, Variety, 19 Apr. 2026

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from German Dystonie, from dys- dys- + -tonie -tonia

Note: Though dystonia appears in polyglot medial lexica in the 19th century, the use of the word to refer to a specific condition probably dates from the German neurologist Hermann Oppenheim's application of Dystonie to the condition he named dystonia musculorum deformans in the article "Über eine eigenartige Krampfkrankheit des kindlichen und jugendlichen Alters (dysbasia lordotica progressiva, dystonia musculorum deformans)," Neurologisches Centralblatt, Band 30 (1911), pp. 1090-1107.

First Known Use

1860, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for dystonia

• aphonia
• chelonia
• cladonia
• colonia
• harmonia
• koinonia
• oogonia
• polonia
• sinfonia
• zirconia
• catatonia
• hypotonia

Medical Definition

dystonia

noun

dys·​to·​nia dis-ˈtō-nē-ə 

: a state of disordered tonicity of tissues (as of muscle)

dystonic

-ˈtän-ik 

adjective