Parkinson's disease

noun

Par·​kin·​son's disease ˈpär-kən-sənz- 

variants or less commonly Parkinson disease or Parkinson's or Parkinson's syndrome

: a chronic progressive neurological disease chiefly of later life that is linked to decreased dopamine production in the substantia nigra and is marked especially by tremor of resting muscles, rigidity, slowness of movement, impaired balance, and a shuffling gait

called also paralysis agitans

Examples of Parkinson's disease in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The rocker had battled Parkinson's disease in the final years of his life. —Brendan Morrow, USA Today, 20 Aug. 2025

There are several types and many possible causes of low blood pressure, including Parkinson's disease, nerve damage from diabetes, advanced age, dehydration, blood loss, pregnancy, heart failure or attack, infection, or a side effect of certain medications. —Colleen Doherty, Verywell Health, 16 Aug. 2025

Ozzy Osbourne had also been living with Parkinson's disease. —Megan Cartwright, MSNBC Newsweek, 11 Aug. 2025

However, amid several health setbacks for Ozzy, who had been diagnosed with Parkinson's disease in 2003, the project shifted into a film. —Marina Watts, People.com, 8 Aug. 2025

Word History

Etymology

James Parkinson †1824 English physician

First Known Use

1877, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for Parkinson's disease

• ferromanganese
• mephistopheles
• ostracods
• abcs
• absentees
• addressees
• adoptees
• allottees
• amputees
• antifreeze
• appellees
• appointees

Kids Definition

Parkinson's disease

noun

Par·​kin·​son's disease ˈpär-kən-sənz- 

: a disease chiefly of later life that tends to get steadily worse and is marked especially by stiff and trembling muscles, slowness of movement, and a shuffling way of walking

Medical Definition

Parkinson's disease

noun

Par·​kin·​son's disease ˈpär-kən-sənz- 

variants also Parkinson disease

-sən-

or Parkinson's

: a chronic progressive neurological disease chiefly of later life that is linked to decreased dopamine production in the substantia nigra, is of unknown cause, and is marked especially by tremor of resting muscles, rigidity, slowness of movement, impaired balance, and a shuffling gait

called also paralysis agitans, parkinsonian syndrome, parkinsonism, Parkinson's syndrome