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epilepsy

American  
[ep-uh-lep-see] / ˈɛp əˌlɛp si /

noun

Pathology.

  1. a disorder of the nervous system, characterized either by mild, episodic loss of attention or sleepiness petit mal or by severe convulsions with loss of consciousness grand mal.

epilepsy British  
/ ˈɛpɪˌlɛpsɪ /

noun

  1. a disorder of the central nervous system characterized by periodic loss of consciousness with or without convulsions. In some cases it is due to brain damage but in others the cause is unknown See also grand mal petit mal

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
epilepsy Scientific  
/ ĕp′ə-lĕp′sē /

  1. Any of various neurological disorders characterized by recurrent seizures. Epilepsy is caused by abnormal electrical activity in the brain.

epilepsy Cultural  

  1. A disorder of the brain characterized by sudden, recurring attacks of abnormal brain function, often resulting in convulsions or seizures. The seizures associated with epilepsy can sometimes be controlled by medication.

Etymology

Origin of epilepsy

First recorded in 1570–80; from Old French epilepsie, from Late Latin epilēpsia, from Greek epilēpsía “epileptic seizure,” derivative of epilambánein “to take hold of, seize, attack”; epi-, -lepsy ( def. )

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Sulthiame is an existing medication that has previously been approved to treat a form of childhood epilepsy.

From Science Daily • Mar. 11, 2026

For example, mutations in genes that produce CoA transporters have been linked to encephalopmyopathy, a condition that may involve developmental delays, epilepsy, and reduced muscle tone.

From Science Daily • Mar. 11, 2026

"We feel robbed, Nicola was handling her epilepsy, taking her medication which was reviewed periodically but she nor us knew anything about sudden unexpected death," Jo-Ann said.

From BBC • Mar. 10, 2026

A new drug is transforming the lives of children born with a severe form of epilepsy, say doctors and families.

From BBC • Mar. 4, 2026

It has been suggested that Vincent van Gogh may have suffered from a form of epilepsy and that his disease may have led him to have the many visions...

From "The Sky at Our Feet" by Nadia Hashimi

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.