occipital

American  

[ok-sip-i-tl] / ɒkˈsɪp ɪ tl /

adjective

1. of, relating to, or situated near the occiput or the occipital bone.

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noun

1. any of several parts of the occiput, especially the occipital bone.

occipital British  

/ ɒkˈsɪpɪtəl /

adjective

1. of or relating to the back of the head or skull

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noun

1. short for occipital bone

Other Word Forms

• occipitally adverb
• preoccipital adjective
• superoccipital adjective

Etymology

Origin of occipital

1535–45; < Medieval Latin occipitālis, equivalent to Latin occipit- (stem of occiput ) occiput + -ālis -al ¹

Example Sentences

The 25-year-old revealed in March that she sustained a "left occipital infarct" last year but there was no lasting damage to her brain or vision.

From BBC • Dec. 9, 2024

A left occipital infarct is a type of ischaemic stroke, which is caused by a blood clot clogging an artery in a brain.

From BBC • Mar. 30, 2024

They were able to show that changes in two important brain regions, the hippocampus and the occipital lobe, as well as their interaction, have an influence on the impaired recall of personal memories in aphantasia.

From Science Daily • Feb. 27, 2024

The new study suggests that, in a healthy brain, the temporal lobe is directly or indirectly inhibiting activity in the dorsomedial occipital lobe, which supports visual association.

From Scientific American • May 26, 2023

“At the occipital bone, the posterior base of my skull,” Rachael said.

From "Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?" by Philip K. Dick