neuropathy

noun

neu·​rop·​a·​thy nu̇-ˈrä-pə-thē 

nyu̇-

plural neuropathies

1

: damage, disease, or dysfunction of one or more nerves especially of the peripheral nervous system that is typically marked by burning or shooting pain, numbness, tingling, or muscle weakness or atrophy, is often degenerative, and is usually caused by injury, infection, disease, drugs, toxins, or vitamin deficiency

Each of the drugs comes with a long list of possible nasty side effects, ranging from liver and kidney damage to pancreatitis and neuropathy in the limbs.

—David Sanford

… the condition known as diabetic neuropathy, a gradual deterioration of peripheral nerves that generally affects old patients and initially causes a painful burning sensation in the hands and feet.

—Sandra Blakeslee

… neuropathy involving the seventh cranial nerve was caused by being hit in the face by the stick.

—Clifton P. Rose

see also peripheral neuropathy

2

: a condition (such as Guillain-Barré syndrome) marked by neuropathy

neuropathic

ˌnu̇r-ə-ˈpa-thik 

ˌnyu̇r-

adjective

neuropathically

ˌnu̇r-ə-ˈpa-thi-k(ə-)lē 

ˌnyu̇r-

adverb

Examples of neuropathy in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Also called hereditary motor and sensory neuropathy, CMT can impact sufferers' ability to walk, stand, and move their arms. —Ryan Coleman, Entertainment Weekly, 9 Oct. 2025

His diagnosis was a gut punch: Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease type 4C, a rare genetic neuropathy associated with early-onset scoliosis. —Madeline Mitchell, USA Today, 27 Aug. 2025

But the patient didn't have any typical signs of diabetic neuropathy that are linked to ulcers. —ArsTechnica, 3 July 2025

Protection From Diabetes Complications Diabetic neuropathy is nerve damage in the limbs caused by complications of diabetes. —Kathi Valeii Published, Verywell Health, 26 June 2025

Word History

Etymology

neuro- + -pathy, probably after Italian neuropatia or French névropathie

First Known Use

circa 1834, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing neuropathy

• peripheral neuropathy

Rhymes for neuropathy

• arthropathy
• nephropathy
• adenopathy
• homeopathy
• osteopathy
• lymphadenopathy

Medical Definition

neuropathy

noun

neu·​rop·​a·​thy n(y)u̇-ˈräp-ə-thē 

plural neuropathies

: damage, disease, or dysfunction of one or more nerves especially of the peripheral nervous system that is typically marked by burning or shooting pain, numbness, tingling, or muscle weakness or atrophy, is often degenerative, and is usually caused by injury, infection, disease, drugs, toxins, or vitamin deficiency

also : a condition (as Guillain-Barré syndrome) marked by neuropathy see also peripheral neuropathy