migraine

American  

[mahy-greyn, mee-] / ˈmaɪ greɪn, ˈmi- /

noun

1. an extremely severe paroxysmal headache, usually confined to one side of the head and often associated with nausea; hemicrania.

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migraine British  

/ ˈmaɪ-, ˈmiːɡreɪn /

noun

1. a throbbing headache usually affecting only one side of the head and commonly accompanied by nausea and visual disturbances

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migraine Scientific  

/ mī′grān′ /

1. A severe recurring headache, usually affecting only one side of the head, that is characterized by sharp, throbbing pain and is often accompanied by nausea, vomiting, sensitivity to light, and visual disturbances. Vasodilation in the brain causes inflammation that results in pain, but the exact cause of migraine is unknown.

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Other Word Forms

• migrainoid adjective
• migrainous adjective

Etymology

Origin of migraine

First recorded in 1325–75; Middle English, from Middle French, from Late Latin hēmicrānia hemicrania; megrim

Compare meaning

How does migraine compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

• headache vs. migraine

Explanation

A migraine is a severe headache. When you get a migraine, you'll probably want to stay in bed, in a dark room, until it passes. When you get a headache that's so painful that you can't work or function, you've probably got a migraine. It's usually women who get migraines, and you are either a person who gets migraines throughout your life, or you never get one at all. Migraines often come with side effects like nausea and blurred vision, and they often affect just one side of the head. The word comes from the Greek hemi-, "half" and kranion, "skull."

Example Sentences

Sharon is now investigating whether newer migraine treatments may help patients with vestibular migraine.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 15, 2026

The deal fits neatly into Lilly’s neuroscience business that already includes Alzheimer’s disease treatment Kisunla and the migraine shot Emgality.

From MarketWatch • Mar. 31, 2026

Pfizer acquired the migraine medication through its purchase of Biohaven Pharmaceuticals in 2022.

From Barron's • Feb. 3, 2026

They had 14% higher odds of reporting two or more conditions, including migraine, back problems, cancer, epilepsy or diabetes.

From Science Daily • Jan. 24, 2026

She gave me some sleeping tablets, but I still couldn’t fall asleep, even after my migraine stopped.

From "A Long Way Gone: Memoirs of a Boy Soldier" by Ishmael Beah

Related Words

• headache
• sick headache