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
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Sandra Hüller plays Anneliese Michel, a German woman with epilepsy who is believed to be possessed by multiple demons before her tragic death in 1976.
—
Michael Lee Simpson, Entertainment Weekly, 29 Oct. 2025
In 18th century Europe, trepanation was used to treat mental illness and epilepsy.
—Lauren Liebhaber, Miami Herald, 29 Oct. 2025
Her eldest daughter, 15-year-old Camille, has a brain lesion that causes severe epilepsy and needs to stay close to her neurologist.
—Lauren Villagran, USA Today, 26 Oct. 2025
Michel — who grew up in a hyper-religious family — had been diagnosed with schizophrenia and epilepsy as a teenager.
—Stephanie Sengwe, PEOPLE, 25 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for epilepsy
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Michael Lee Simpson, Entertainment Weekly, 29 Oct. 2025
In 18th century Europe, trepanation was used to treat mental illness and epilepsy.
—Lauren Liebhaber, Miami Herald, 29 Oct. 2025
Her eldest daughter, 15-year-old Camille, has a brain lesion that causes severe epilepsy and needs to stay close to her neurologist.
—Lauren Villagran, USA Today, 26 Oct. 2025
Michel — who grew up in a hyper-religious family — had been diagnosed with schizophrenia and epilepsy as a teenager.
—Stephanie Sengwe, PEOPLE, 25 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for epilepsy
Cite this Entry
“Epilepsy.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/epilepsy. Accessed 31 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationKids 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
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