hyperkinesia

American

[hahy-per-ki-nee-zhuh, -zhee-uh, -zee-uh, -kahy-] / ˌhaɪ pər kɪˈni ʒə, -ʒi ə, -zi ə, -kaɪ- /

Also hyperkinesis

noun

Pathology. an abnormal amount of uncontrolled muscular action; spasm.
Psychiatry. a disorder occurring in children and adolescents, characterized by excessive activity, extreme restlessness, impulsivity, and a short attention span.

hyperkinesia British

/ ˌhaɪpəkɪˈniːzɪə, -kaɪ-, -kaɪ-, ˌhaɪpəkɪˈnɛtɪk, ˌhaɪpəkɪˈniːsɪs, -kaɪ- /

noun

excessive movement, as in a muscle spasm
extreme overactivity in children

"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

Other Word Forms

hyperkinetic

adjective

Etymology

Origin of hyperkinesia

First recorded in 1840–50; hyper- + -kinesia

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.

"I've now got a permanent problem with my heart which is hyperkinesia, which my heart doesn't pump properly," he told the officers.

From BBC • Mar. 20, 2026

Human parallels In addition to hyperactivity, the mice displayed a combination of mania-like behaviors and seizures, which are indicative of a disorder called hyperkinesia.

From Scientific American • Oct. 24, 2013

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