grand mal

noun

ˈgrän(d)-ˌmäl 

ˈgräⁿ-ˌmäl,

-ˌmal;

ˈgran(d)-ˌmal 

1

or grand mal epilepsy : severe epilepsy characterized by seizures in which there is an abrupt loss of consciousness with initially prolonged tonic muscle contractions followed by clonic muscle spasms

2

or grand mal seizure : a seizure marked by abrupt loss of consciousness with initially prolonged tonic muscle contractions followed by clonic muscle spasms

Examples of grand mal in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Shields then went into a restaurant and suffered a grand mal seizure (ie: the really bad-looking kind). —Vulture, 1 Nov. 2023

Some children have grand mal seizures; others walk in a way that is reminiscent of Parkinson’s Disease. —Emilie Le Beau Lucchesi, Discover Magazine, 20 June 2023

What causes a grand mal seizure? —Patti Greco, Health.com, 9 Nov. 2021

Iska, his daughter with Ana Maria, had lived with brain damage before dying of a grand mal seizure in 1985 at age 14. —Nate Chinen, New York Times, 2 Mar. 2023

Word History

Etymology

French, literally, great illness

First Known Use

1833, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Medical Definition

grand mal

noun

ˈgrän(d)-ˌmäl  ˈgräⁿ-ˌmäl 

-ˌmal; ˈgran(d)-ˌmal

1

or grand mal epilepsy : severe epilepsy characterized by tonic-clonic seizures : tonic-clonic epilepsy

2

or grand mal seizure : a tonic-clonic seizure

She estimates having had about 25 grand mals and 100 smaller-scale seizures since.

—Cicero A. Estrella, San Francisco Chronicle