insomnia

noun

in·​som·​nia in-ˈsäm-nē-ə 

: prolonged and usually abnormal inability to get enough sleep especially due to trouble falling asleep or staying asleep

chronic insomnia

Insomnia is a patient-reported problem characterized by difficulty falling asleep or difficulty maintaining sleep; ie, frequent awakenings, difficulty returning to sleep after awakenings, or awakening too early with inability to return to sleep.

—Daniel J. Buysse

Synonyms

• sleeplessness
• wakefulness

Examples of insomnia in a Sentence

has suffered from insomnia virtually his entire life

Recent Examples on the Web

Indeed, Greeley seemed to be a classic, if unusually tragic, case of what doctors of the day referred to as neurasthenia—a sort of catchall diagnosis encompassing anxiety, depression, insomnia, loss of appetite, physical exhaustion and other symptoms typically attributed to overwork. —Greg Daugherty, Smithsonian Magazine, 19 Sep. 2024

Emotions such as anxiety may create or worsen insomnia. —Corey Whelan, Verywell Health, 18 Sep. 2024

Warming fuels coral-killing heat waves and hurricanes, causes some animals to shrink and others to get insomnia, and generally makes much of the planet less suitable for life. —Benji Jones, Vox, 14 Sep. 2024

Experiencing a lucid dream for the first time, after a long night of insomnia, sparked curiosity for writer Claire L. Evans. —Krista Stevens, Longreads, 12 Sep. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Latin, from insomnis sleepless, from in- + somnus sleep — more at somnolent

First Known Use

1739, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

insomnia

noun

in·​som·​nia in-ˈsäm-nē-ə 

: prolonged inability to sleep

Medical Definition

insomnia

noun

in·​som·​nia in-ˈsäm-nē-ə 

: prolonged and usually abnormal inability to obtain adequate sleep especially due to difficulty falling asleep or staying asleep

called also agrypnia