epileptic

adjective

ep·​i·​lep·​tic ˌe-pə-ˈlep-tik How to pronounce epileptic (audio)
: relating to, affected with, or having the characteristics of epilepsy
an epileptic seizure
epileptic noun
epileptically adverb

Examples of epileptic in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web And focal seizures involving one region of the brain can generalize, causing episodes characterized by jerking movements or epileptic spasms. Benjamin Mueller, New York Times, 1 Sep. 2023 The day after one daughter, Audrey, took her last medication for Jeavons Syndrome -- an epileptic syndrome, another daughter, Sarah Grace, began displaying symptoms of what would be stage-four brain cancer, a neuroblastoma. Gabriella Abdul-Hakim, ABC News, 27 July 2023 But in another example, a patient had an epileptic seizure on an airplane and was unconscious for about 15 minutes. Emilie Le Beau Lucchesi, Discover Magazine, 29 Aug. 2023 Officials at the time said the death likely stemmed from an epileptic seizure. Camilo Montoya-Galvez, CBS News, 11 July 2023 These aerosols contain marijuana’s active cannabinoid compounds—including intoxicant THC and cannabidiol (CBD), which is popularly believed to have calming and anti-inflammatory properties and is sometimes prescribed for intractable epileptic seizures. Rachel Berkowitz, Scientific American, 4 July 2023 Anna, 12, who is disabled and has epileptic convulsions, lies shaking on the chest of her mother, Natalia. Nick Paton Walsh, CNN, 15 Apr. 2023 Focal seizures are the most common form of epileptic seizures, and are frequently associated with conditions such as strokes and head injuries. Jordan Strickler, Discover Magazine, 29 Nov. 2022 In 2004, as a first-year architecture student at RMIT, García-Noriega had an epileptic episode and was mistakenly diagnosed with schizophrenia and hospitalized for several weeks. Natalia Torija Nieto, ELLE Decor, 28 Sep. 2022 See More

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'epileptic.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1605, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of epileptic was in 1605

Dictionary Entries Near epileptic

Cite this Entry

“Epileptic.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/epileptic. Accessed 5 Dec. 2023.

Kids Definition

epileptic

1 of 2 adjective
ep·​i·​lep·​tic
ˌep-ə-ˈlep-tik
: of, relating to, or having epilepsy
an epileptic seizure

epileptic

2 of 2 noun
: a person who has epilepsy

Medical Definition

epileptic

1 of 2 adjective
ep·​i·​lep·​tic ˌep-ə-ˈlep-tik How to pronounce epileptic (audio)
: relating to, affected with, or having the characteristics of epilepsy
epileptically adverb

epileptic

2 of 2 noun
: one affected with epilepsy

More from Merriam-Webster on epileptic

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