vertigo

noun

ver·​ti·​go ˈvər-ti-ˌgō 

plural vertigoes or vertigos

1

a

: a sensation of motion in which the individual or the individual's surroundings seem to whirl dizzily

b

: a dizzy confused state of mind

2

: disordered vertiginous movement as a symptom of disease in lower animals

also : a disease (such as gid) causing this

Examples of vertigo in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

That vertigo—the fear of not moving fast enough—is what Horowitz calls founders’ AI anxiety. —Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 15 Apr. 2026

Returning frommissing four races because of vertigo, Alex Bowman started 27th and finished last after being involved in a multicar crash started by Shane van Gisbergen. —ABC News, 12 Apr. 2026

Alex Bowman thought his NASCAR career was over after being sidelined by a bout of vertigo. —Nate Ryan, The Orlando Sentinel, 11 Apr. 2026

Anyone who suffers from vertigo or any kind of fear of heights should be well-advised to watch with caution, and personally there were times the film made me, a minor acrophobic, feel the need to avert my eyes and search my purse for some Rescue Remedy. —Leslie Felperin, HollywoodReporter, 18 Mar. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Latin vertigin-, vertigo, from vertere to turn

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing vertigo

• benign paroxysmal positional vertigo
• benign positional vertigo

Rhymes for vertigo

• afterglow
• akimbo
• albino
• aliquot
• allegro
• amigo
• apropos
• audio
• bungalow
• calico
• calypso
• cameo

Kids Definition

vertigo

noun

ver·​ti·​go ˈvərt-i-ˌgō 

plural vertigoes or vertigos

1

: a sensation in which a person or a person's surroundings seem to whirl dizzily

2

: a confused or bewildered state of mind

Medical Definition

vertigo

noun

ver·​ti·​go ˈvərt-i-ˌgō 

plural vertigoes or vertigos

1

: a sensation of motion which is associated with various disorders (as of the inner ear) and in which the individual or the individual's surroundings seem to whirl dizzily see objective vertigo, subjective vertigo compare dizziness

2

: disordered vertiginous movement as a symptom of disease in lower animals

also : a disease (as gid) causing this