epilepsy

American  

[ep-uh-lep-see] / ˈɛp əˌlɛp si /

noun

Pathology.

• epilepsies
  plural

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).

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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

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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.

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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.

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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• epilepsies
  plural

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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”; see epi-, -lepsy ( def. )

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Explanation

If you have epilepsy, you have a central nervous system disorder that may cause you to lose consciousness and have convulsions. The noun epilepsy comes from the Greek word epilēpsia, which itself means seizure. Not all seizures are caused by epilepsy, but an epileptic seizure occurs when a strong electrical disturbance occurs in the brain. The severity and intensity of the seizures depend on many factors and are unique to each person. It may be possible to control seizures through medication, although not everyone with epilepsy will respond to medication. People with uncontrolled epilepsy should not drive.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

epilepsy epilepsies

"During the winter, my son suffers from epilepsy seizures because of the cold. It's very hard sometimes to keep him dry and warm," she said.

From BBC ● Oct. 8, 2026

Ketogenic diets were first developed during the 1920s as a treatment for epilepsy.

From Science Daily ● Oct. 6, 2026

While Linton has not been diagnosed with an underlying seizure disorder, such as epilepsy, defense attorney Jovan Blacknell said Linton suffered intermittent seizures during her life, including at the time of the wreck.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 1, 2026

A U.S.-based chain of medbed operators called Tesla BioHealing has been flagged by federal regulators for claiming that its “Life Force Energy” treatments can cure stroke paralysis, epilepsy, Alzheimer’s, and terminal cancer.

From Slate ● Sep. 22, 2026

We can’t go back in time and diagnose him, but from here it looks like a form of epilepsy or, most likely, the beginnings of bipolar disorder, which is also known as manic depression.

From "Vincent and Theo: The Van Gogh Brothers" by Deborah Heiligman

But dentate gating seems to break down in temporal-lobe epilepsies affecting the hippocampus, resulting in unrestrained, synchronized firing of granule cells.

From Nature ● Jul. 8, 2014

The mechanism underlying seizures known as absence epilepsies is rather different.

From Nature ● Jul. 8, 2014

Electrophysiology insights could guide more sophisticated monitoring of cortical epilepsies and possibly other focal epilepsies as well.

From Nature ● Jul. 8, 2014

Still, about 30% of epilepsies do not respond to pharmaceuticals, which prompted the search for alternative treatments.

From Nature ● Jul. 8, 2014

Whereas the convulsive asthma, like other convulsions, or epilepsies, may be occasioned by pain in almost any remote part of the system.

From Zoonomia, Vol. II Or, the Laws of Organic Life by Erasmus Darwin

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