vertigo

American  

[vur-ti-goh] / ˈvɜr tɪˌgoʊ /

noun

Pathology.

plural

vertigoes, vertigines

1. a dizzying sensation of tilting within stable surroundings or of being in tilting or spinning surroundings.

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vertigo British  

/ ˈvɜːtɪˌɡəʊ /

noun

1. pathol a sensation of dizziness or abnormal motion resulting from a disorder of the sense of balance

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Etymology

Origin of vertigo

First recorded in 1520–30; from Latin vertīgō “a turning or whirling round,” equivalent to vert(ere) “to turn” ( verse ¹ ( def. ) ) + -īgō noun suffix

Example Sentences

He asked anyone affected to seek medical attention and listed symptoms from fatigue to vertigo, seizures, confusion, tightness in chest and heart palpitations.

From The Wall Street Journal • Sep. 14, 2025

Americans are experiencing a type of spiritual, political and societal vertigo, where our fundamental beliefs and expectations about what is healthy and normal are being challenged, if not shattered altogether.

From Salon • Jul. 18, 2025

Due to the crippling vertigo that comes and goes, he doesn’t surf as often as he used to.

From Los Angeles Times • Dec. 5, 2024

Ms Hill, from Hotwells, Bristol, first developed symptoms as a teenager, which included migraines, bouts of nausea, vertigo, tinnitus and brain fog, meaning she was unable to hold down a job.

From BBC • Dec. 4, 2024

The thought of falling induced a kind of vertigo in Lyra, and she swayed.

From "The Amber Spyglass" by Philip Pullman