narcolepsy

noun nar·co·lep·sy \ ˈnär-kə-ˌlep-sē \

Definition of narcolepsy

plural narcolepsies

:a condition characterized by brief attacks of deep sleep often occurring with cataplexy and hypnagogic hallucinations

—

narcoleptic

play \ˌnär-kə-ˈlep-tik\ adjective

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Recent Examples of narcolepsy from the Web

Jazz Pharmaceuticals Plc’s Xyrem, for the sleep disorder narcolepsy, and suboxone, for opioid addiction, also carry such warnings about the potential for side effects or abuse.

— cynthia koons, Bloomberg.com, "A Drug Program That Keeps Patients Safe (And Profits, Too)," 26 July 2017
Dreams, nightmares, sedatives, stimulants, narcolepsy, insomnia, post-traumatic stress disorder and even homelessness all come under his gaze.

— michael upchurch, The Seattle Times, "‘Snooze: The Lost Art of Sleep’: a delightful eye-opener," 25 June 2017
In 2007, Flygare, then a 24-year-old law student, was diagnosed with narcolepsy with cataplexy, a neurological disorder that causes chronic sleepiness and, in her case, symptoms of brief episodes of muscle weakness triggered by strong emotions.

— maria cartaya, CNN, "Runner: Having narcolepsy is harder than a marathon," 23 June 2017
The little girl, too, developed narcolepsy, forcing Church to acknowledge his own.

— sharon begley, Scientific American, "“A Feature, Not a Bug”: George Church Ascribes His Visionary Ideas to Narcolepsy," 9 June 2017
People who have narcolepsy tend to slip quickly into REM sleep, the phase when dreams occur, rather than experiencing the four phases that usually precede it.

— sharon begley, Scientific American, "“A Feature, Not a Bug”: George Church Ascribes His Visionary Ideas to Narcolepsy," 9 June 2017
In the 1960s, fenethylline was widely recommended to people suffering from ailments like hyperactivity and narcolepsy.

— adam taylor, Washington Post, "In a first, authorities say they found 750,000 ‘Captagon’ pills in France," 30 May 2017
The event held at Title Boxing Club in Carlsbad helped raise awareness and funds for the nonprofit that offers educational information, events and emotional support to those with narcolepsy, a sleeping disorder.

— linda mcintosh, sandiegouniontribune.com, "Teen raises money to help people with sleep disorders," 8 May 2017
The event included free boxing lessons, since MacKenzie found that boxing can help those with narcolepsy.

— linda mcintosh, sandiegouniontribune.com, "Teen raises money to help people with sleep disorders," 8 May 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'narcolepsy.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of narcolepsy

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First Known Use: 1880

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NARCOLEPSY Defined for English Language Learners

narcolepsy

noun

Definition of narcolepsy for English Language Learners

medical : a medical condition in which someone suddenly falls into a deep sleep while talking, working, etc.

Medical Dictionary

narcolepsy

noun nar·co·lep·sy \ ˈnär-kə-ˌlep-sē \

medical Definition of narcolepsy

plural narcolepsies

:a condition characterized by brief attacks of deep sleep often occurring with cataplexy and hypnagogic hallucinations — compare hypersomnia 2

Learn More about narcolepsy

Nglish: Translation of narcolepsy for Spanish speakers Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about narcolepsy

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