Tourette syndrome

British

/ tʊəˈrɛt /

noun

Also called: Gilles de la Tourette syndrome. Tourette's syndrome. Tourette's. a brain disorder characterized by involuntary outbursts of swearing, spitting, barking, etc, and sudden involuntary movements

"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

Etymology

Origin of Tourette syndrome

C20: named after Georges Gilles de la Tourette (1857–1904), French neurologist

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.

John Davidson, a guest with Tourette syndrome who was the inspiration behind the film I Swear, shouted out when two black actors, Delroy Lindo and Michael B Jordan, were on stage.

From BBC • Feb. 24, 2026

Kennedy mentioned diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis, seizure disorders, ADHD, speech delay, language delay, tics, Tourette syndrome, narcolepsy, peanut allergies and eczema.

From Salon • Jul. 17, 2025

Howard was open early in his career that he had Tourette syndrome, a neurological disorder causing involuntary, repetitive movements.

From Seattle Times • May 2, 2024

The researchers also looked at what percentage of residents received an antipsychotic drug in the last week but didn't have a qualifying diagnosis of schizophrenia, Tourette syndrome, or Huntington's disease.

From Science Daily • Apr. 24, 2024

She said the proper term for it is Tourette syndrome.

From "When I Was the Greatest" by Jason Reynolds

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023