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 The seizure, according to the lawsuit filed in the U.S. District Court in the Southern District of Indiana, was the latest in a series of similar occurrences for the epileptic teenager. Mike Stunson, Kansas City Star, 15 Feb. 2024 Just ask Crista Eggers, who has been trying to legalize medical marijuana since 2019 to treat her son, Colton, who suffers daily epileptic seizures that his physicians believe are treatable with cannabis. Jonathan Weisman, New York Times, 18 Feb. 2024 Charcot believed that hysteria was a hereditary neurological condition—a state akin to a hypnotic trance that caused epileptic episodes and delirium. Hannah Zeavin, The New Yorker, 14 Sep. 2023 Reducing Seizures and Epileptic Episodes One of the most notable potential benefits of CBD oil for dogs is its ability to reduce seizures and epileptic episodes. Amber Smith, Discover Magazine, 30 Aug. 2023 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 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 19 Mar. 2024.

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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