convulsion

American  

[kuhn-vuhl-shuhn] / kənˈvʌl ʃən /

noun

• convulsions
  plural

1. contortion of the body caused by violent, involuntary muscular contractions of the extremities, trunk, and head.

2. violent agitation or disturbance; commotion.

3. an outburst of great, uncontrollable laughter.

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convulsion British  

/ kənˈvʌlʃən /

noun

1. a violent involuntary contraction of a muscle or muscles

2. a violent upheaval, disturbance, or agitation, esp a social one

3. informal (usually plural) uncontrollable laughter

   I was in convulsions

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convulsion Cultural  

1. A severe, often violent involuntary contraction of the muscles. Convulsions may be caused by high fevers or poisoning and often accompany such diseases such as epilepsy.

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• convulsionary
  adjective

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• convulsions
  plural

Etymology

Origin of convulsion

First recorded in 1575–85, convulsion is from the Latin word convulsiōn- (stem of convulsiō ). See convulse, -ion

Explanation

If you see someone have a convulsion, it can either be scary or funny, depending on whether it's caused by a medical condition or a really funny joke. A convulsion is a jerking, uncontrolled movement. When a person has a convulsion, it appears as a sudden, violent movement of the body. Convulsions most often happen as a result of a medical condition or illness like epilepsy, but you can also describe a jerky, irregular movement as a convulsion, even if it's caused by hiccups or laughter. A political upheaval or social turmoil can also be called a convulsion, if it's abrupt and violent. The Latin root word is convulsionem, which means "to tear loose."

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

convulsion convulsions

No one should have to endure such horrible, public pain, experienced simultaneously with a nationwide convulsion.

From Salon ● Sep. 11, 2026

What they couldn’t know at the time was that a major convulsion was coming for the golf world: LIV’s funding was about to evaporate.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 22, 2026

The remaining two recordings were triggered by sound or motion, but only one suggested that a muscle convulsion, a sign of seizure, had occurred.

From Science Daily ● Jan. 4, 2024

"She went into a full-on convulsion," Ms Andrews said.

From BBC ● Jan. 18, 2023

Nobody peeked their head in the door to see if I was absent or sick or maybe having a convulsion in the middle of the floor.

From "Out of My Mind" by Sharon M. Draper

"They are not particularly dangerous, you're not at risk of hurting yourself or anyone else. My convulsions are very rare, I have maybe three or four a year, they don't massively impact my life."

From BBC ● Jun. 4, 2026

He contracted meningitis as a youth and still suffers from convulsions.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jan. 30, 2026

His company may emerge from today’s pinball-like experience still needing a strategy to survive and prosper on its own amid the entertainment industry’s streaming and artificial-intelligence convulsions.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Dec. 26, 2025

Novo has suffered repeated convulsions amid a dramatic selloff that has sent shares down by more than 60% since the middle of last year.

From Barron's ● Oct. 30, 2025

She let go and sprawled back on the grass in convulsions of laughter.

From "The Secret Life of Bees" by Sue Monk Kidd

Related Words

• contraction
• cramp
• paroxysm
• seizure
• tremor