encephalopathy

American  

[en-sef-uh-lop-uh-thee] / ɛnˌsɛf əˈlɒp ə θi /

noun

Psychiatry.

1. any brain disease.

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encephalopathy British  

/ ɛnˌsɛfəˈlɒpəθɪ /

noun

1. any degenerative disease of the brain, often associated with toxic conditions See also BSE

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encephalopathy Scientific  

/ ĕn-sĕf′ə-lŏp′ə-thē /

1. Degeneration of brain function, caused by any of various acquired disorders, including metabolic disease, organ failure, inflammation, and chronic infection.

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Etymology

Origin of encephalopathy

First recorded in 1865–70; encephalo- + -pathy

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

encephalopathy

CTE, which stands for chronic traumatic encephalopathy, is a degenerative brain disease involving the buildup in the brain of “tau” proteins associated with forms of dementia such as Alzheimer’s.

From MarketWatch ● Sep. 30, 2026

Helmets became a matter of keen public interest 20 years ago, after researchers linked football-related head trauma with the brain disease known as chronic traumatic encephalopathy, or CTE.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 13, 2026

Disruptions have been linked to metabolic and neurological conditions such as liver failure and encephalopathy, as well as aging-related disorders like Alzheimer's and Parkinson's disease.

From Science Daily ● Apr. 13, 2026

Health officials became particularly concerned about reports of a rare, severe complication that targets the brain — influenza-associated encephalopathy, or IAE, which was reported in 109 children nationally last season.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 20, 2025

That table, for instance, lists certain forms of encephalopathy — a type of brain dysfunction — as a rare side effect of shots that protect people from whooping cough, measles, mumps and rubella.

From Salon ● Jul. 17, 2025