dystonia

American  

[dis-toh-nee-uh] / dɪsˈtoʊ ni ə /

noun

Pathology.

1. abnormal tone of any tissue.

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dystonia British  

/ dɪsˈtəʊnɪə /

noun

1. a neurological disorder, caused by disease of the basal ganglia, in which the muscles of the trunk, shoulders, and neck go into spasm, so that the head and limbs are held in unnatural positions

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Other Word Forms

• dystonic
  adjective

Etymology

Origin of dystonia

dys- + -tonia

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

dystonia

Someone might have blepharospasms, a dystonia affecting the muscles around the eyes, which results in uncontrollable twitching and blinking.

From Slate ● Apr. 18, 2026

It’s happened often enough that scientists at the Mayo Clinic have a more formal definition for it—involuntary wrist spasms that can stem from a neurological condition called focal dystonia.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 29, 2025

"There's a lot of interest from the dystonia community, and we get many calls from patients asking, 'When will this drug be available? How can I have a prescription?'"

From Science Daily ● Nov. 20, 2024

Laryngeal dystonia, known previously as spasmodic dysphonia, is a rare condition that affects over 50,000 people in the US and Canada.

From Science Daily ● Nov. 20, 2024

Aged 19, she was diagnosed with the neurological condition dystonia which leads to joint and muscle contractions and spasms and became a full-time wheelchair user.

From BBC ● Aug. 22, 2024