insomnia

[in-som-nee-uh]

noun

1. inability to obtain sufficient sleep, especially when chronic; difficulty in falling or staying asleep; sleeplessness.

insomnia

/ ɪnˈsɒmnɪə /

noun

1. chronic inability to fall asleep or to enjoy uninterrupted sleep

insomnia

1. Chronic inability to fall asleep or remain asleep for an adequate length of time.

insomnia

1. A persistent and prolonged inability to sleep.

Other Word Forms

• insomnious adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of insomnia¹

First recorded in 1685–95; from Latin, equivalent to insomn(is) “sleepless” ( in- in- ³ + somn(us) “sleep” + -is, adjective suffix) + -ia -ia

Word History and Origins

Origin of insomnia¹

C18: from Latin, from insomnis sleepless, from somnus sleep

Example Sentences

A recent scientific study suggested that people are three times more likely to suffer from insomnia in Ukraine than in countries at peace.

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Anxiety, depression, insomnia, and feelings of isolation were common in the workers, as well as in the former populations of the towns surrounding the plant.

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Other withdrawal symptoms can include dizziness, fatigue, anxiety, insomnia, agitation and gastrointestinal side effects.

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The research team wanted to know whether long-term use could influence heart failure risk in people with chronic insomnia.

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Scientists are also learning more about the causes of dementia, such as pollution, insomnia and drinking alcohol.

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Related Words

• restlessness 

When To Use

What does insomnia mean?

Insomnia is the inability to fall asleep or stay asleep for an adequate amount of time.Insomnia is often used casually to refer to occasional sleeplessness or a single instance of it. But in medical terms, insomnia typically refers to a condition involving a chronic inability to fall or stay asleep, meaning the inability is persistent and prolonged—it happens all the time.A person who experiences insomnia can be called an insomniac.Example: My insomnia gets worse when I’m under a lot of stress.