epilepsy
noun
ep·i·lep·sy
ˈe-pə-ˌlep-sē 
plural epilepsies
: any of various disorders marked by abnormal electrical discharges in the brain and typically manifested by sudden brief episodes of altered or diminished consciousness, involuntary movements, or convulsions
Examples of epilepsy in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Importantly, psychiatry has a history of adapting epilepsy treatments for other mental illnesses, Palmer notes.
—
Claire Cameron, Scientific American, 6 Feb. 2026
Her epilepsy medication costs about $175 every three months without insurance, and her annual doctor visits total roughly $250.
—Meg Tanaka, Los Angeles Times, 6 Feb. 2026
After 10 years, just under 18,000 children, half under age 3, had been diagnosed with epilepsy, with higher risk among those exposed to maternal diabetes.
—Theresa Gaffney, STAT, 4 Feb. 2026
Its focus today centers on pediatric conditions with genetic roots, including epilepsy and autism, where earlier intervention changes lives.
—Kaitlyn Gomez, USA Today, 1 Feb. 2026
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Claire Cameron, Scientific American, 6 Feb. 2026
Her epilepsy medication costs about $175 every three months without insurance, and her annual doctor visits total roughly $250.
—Meg Tanaka, Los Angeles Times, 6 Feb. 2026
After 10 years, just under 18,000 children, half under age 3, had been diagnosed with epilepsy, with higher risk among those exposed to maternal diabetes.
—Theresa Gaffney, STAT, 4 Feb. 2026
Its focus today centers on pediatric conditions with genetic roots, including epilepsy and autism, where earlier intervention changes lives.
—Kaitlyn Gomez, USA Today, 1 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for epilepsy
Cite this Entry
“Epilepsy.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/epilepsy. Accessed 8 Feb. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
epilepsy
noun
ep·i·lep·sy
ˈep-ə-ˌlep-sē
: a disorder marked by abnormal electrical discharges in the brain, by attacks of convulsions, and by loss of consciousness
Medical Definition
epilepsy
noun
ep·i·lep·sy
ˈep-ə-ˌlep-sē
plural epilepsies
: any of various disorders marked by abnormal electrical discharges in the brain and typically manifested by sudden brief episodes of altered or diminished consciousness, involuntary movements, or convulsions see absence epilepsy, grand mal sense 1, petit mal sense 1 focal epilepsy, jacksonian epilepsy, myoclonic epilepsy, temporal lobe epilepsy
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