Dictionary.com
Thesaurus.com

multiple sclerosis

American  

noun

Pathology.
  1. a chronic degenerative, often episodic disease of the central nervous system marked by patchy destruction of the myelin that surrounds and insulates nerve fibers, usually appearing in young adulthood and manifested by one or more mild to severe neural and muscular impairments, as spastic weakness in one or more limbs, local sensory losses, bladder dysfunction, or visual disturbances.


multiple sclerosis British  

noun

  1. Also called: disseminated sclerosis. a chronic progressive disease of the central nervous system characterized by loss of some of the myelin sheath surrounding certain nerve fibres and resulting in speech and visual disorders, tremor, muscular incoordination, partial paralysis, etc

"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

multiple sclerosis Scientific  
/ sklə-rō′sĭs /
  1. A chronic degenerative disease of the central nervous system in which gradual destruction of myelin occurs in the brain or spinal cord or both, interfering with the nerve pathways and causing muscular weakness, loss of coordination, and speech and visual disturbances. It occurs chiefly in young adults and is thought to be caused by a defect in the immune system that may be of genetic or viral origin.


multiple sclerosis Cultural  
  1. A chronic disease of the central nervous system characterized by the hardening of patches of tissue in the brain and spinal cord. The cause of this disease has to do with damage to the sheathes of nerves, and there is no specific treatment. It occurs in varying degrees of severity and, in the worst case, can result in permanent paralysis.


Etymology

Origin of multiple sclerosis

First recorded in 1880–85

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.

See Examples For:

Blair, known for her roles in “Cruel Intentions” and “Legally Blonde,” publicly revealed her multiple sclerosis diagnosis in 2018.

From Salon ● Oct. 12, 2026

In 2024, Smith revealed that she was living with the debilitating effects of multiple sclerosis.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 7, 2026

Researchers combined previously published genomic information for long Covid, PTSD, rheumatoid arthritis and multiple sclerosis from existing genome-wide association studies with 3D genomic data from an earlier study of people with ME/CFS.

From Science Daily ● Oct. 2, 2026

Despite the brain tumour and a recent diagnosis of multiple sclerosis, Oli was otherwise fit and well and positive about his future.

From BBC ● Sep. 8, 2026

One doctor suggested she might have multiple sclerosis; so many of her symptoms seemed to indicate some kind of degenerative illness.

From "Zeitoun" by Dave Eggers

Vocabulary.com logo
by dictionary.com

Join 14,000,000 vocabulary learners

Start learning new words today on VocabTrainer.
You'll remember them forever.

Start training