Tourette's syndrome

American  

[too-rets] / tʊˈrɛts /

Or Tourette syndrome

noun

Pathology.

1. a neurological disorder characterized by recurrent involuntary movements, including multiple neck jerks and sometimes vocal tics, as grunts, barks, or words, especially obscenities.

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Tourette's syndrome Scientific  

/ t-rĕts′ /

1. A neurological disorder characterized by multiple facial and other body tics, usually beginning in childhood or adolescence and often accompanied by grunts and compulsive utterances, such as interjections or obscenities. It is named for its discoverer, French neurologist Georges Gilles de la Tourette (1857–1904).

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Etymology

Origin of Tourette's syndrome

After Georges Gilles de la Tourette (1857–1904), French neurologist, who described it in 1885

Example Sentences

British actor Robert Aramayo triumphed over established stars Timothee Chalamet and Leonardo DiCaprio to win the best actor prize for his portrayal of a man with Tourette's syndrome in "I Swear".

From Barron's • Feb. 23, 2026

“The tics you have heard tonight are involuntary — that means the person who has Tourette’s syndrome has no control over their language and we apologize if it has caused offense.”

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 22, 2026

John Davidson, whose life with Tourette's syndrome was portrayed in I Swear by Robert Aramayo, was among those at the awards.

From BBC • Feb. 22, 2026

But the film had a strong, sometimes controversial presence in the room beyond its trophies: In the film, Aramayo portrays Davidson, a notable advocate for Tourette’s syndrome awareness who suffers from the disorder.

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 22, 2026

His life was filmed for a series of documentaries, beginning with John's Not Mad in 1989, which is credited with raising awareness of Tourette's syndrome.

From BBC • Jan. 28, 2026