epilepsy

noun

ep·​i·​lep·​sy ˈe-pə-ˌlep-sē 

plural epilepsies

: any of various disorders marked by abnormal electrical discharges in the brain and typically manifested by sudden brief episodes of altered or diminished consciousness, involuntary movements, or convulsions

Examples of epilepsy in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Researchers noted the positive effects of ecstatic epilepsy and synthesized fifty-three theoretical models of delusion. —Rafil Kroll-Zaidi, Harpers Magazine, 21 June 2025

Methadone is used to treat opioid use disorder, amitriptyline to treat symptoms of depression and gabapentin to treat various conditions including epilepsy, nerve pain and restless leg syndrome. —Jason Green, Mercury News, 11 June 2025

Both facilities treated patients for a variety of medical conditions, including epilepsy, alcoholism and mental illnesses, chief among them what was then known as pellagrous insanity—a symptom of the disease pellagra, which ravaged the region between the late 18th and early 20th centuries. —Asia London Palomba, Smithsonian Magazine, 6 June 2025

Bruxism has been associated with a number of chronic health conditions, including Parkinson's disease, encephalitis, epilepsy, traumatic brain injury and hyperthyroidism, says Schultz. —Caroline C. Boyle, USA Today, 1 June 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English epilencie, from Anglo-French & Latin; Anglo-French epelempsie, modification of Late Latin epilepsia, from Greek epilēpsia, from epilambanein to seize, from epi- + lambanein to take, seize — more at latch

First Known Use

1543, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing epilepsy

• anti-epilepsy
• grand mal epilepsy

Rhymes for epilepsy

• catalepsy
• narcolepsy

Kids Definition

epilepsy

noun

ep·​i·​lep·​sy ˈep-ə-ˌlep-sē 

: a disorder marked by abnormal electrical discharges in the brain, by attacks of convulsions, and by loss of consciousness

Medical Definition

epilepsy

noun

ep·​i·​lep·​sy ˈep-ə-ˌlep-sē 

plural epilepsies

: any of various disorders marked by abnormal electrical discharges in the brain and typically manifested by sudden brief episodes of altered or diminished consciousness, involuntary movements, or convulsions see absence epilepsy, grand mal sense 1, petit mal sense 1 focal epilepsy, jacksonian epilepsy, myoclonic epilepsy, temporal lobe epilepsy