vertigo

American  

[vur-ti-goh] / ˈvɜr tɪˌgoʊ /

noun

Pathology.

• vertigoes,
  plural
• vertigines,
  plural
• vertigos
  plural

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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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• vertigines
  plural
• vertigoes
  plural
• vertigos
  plural

Etymology

Origin of vertigo

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

Explanation

If you're standing still but the room is inexplicably spinning, you might want to let someone know you're suffering from vertigo — the sensation of dizziness or whirling. Contrary to popular belief, vertigo is not exactly the same thing as acrophobia, the fear of heights. However, acrophobia can result in the symptoms associated with vertigo. Interestingly, when legendary director Alfred Hitchcock created a film about a detective with an intense fear of heights, he named the film Vertigo, not Acrophobia; perhaps he thought Vertigo was catchier.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

vertigo vertigoes vertigos

She reported her vertigo to a neurologist, described her joint pain to a rheumatologist, complained of bloating to her primary-care physician.

From Salon ● Jun. 14, 2026

"In 2006, nearly 2,000 residents suffered from vertigo, sight problems and nausea after it rained in Guney, with blood tests showing cyanide in their blood," he said.

From Barron's ● May 15, 2026

She said she was nervous about the Mount Etna expedition in Italy because she had vertigo on a recent ascent of Ben Vorlich, her first Munro.

From BBC ● May 6, 2026

Roughly 3% of adults are also affected by vestibular migraine, a condition where migraine causes dizziness or vertigo even without a headache.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Apr. 15, 2026

As Arion closed the distance, the glacier loomed so large, Hazel got vertigo just trying to take it all in.

From "The Son of Neptune" by Rick Riordan

The "inspissated gloom" of his work, its tenebrous gulfs and musical vertigoes are true indices of his morbid pathology.

From Ivory Apes and Peacocks by Huneker, James

Then had come vertigoes and strange, inexplicable qualms, as if he were in an elevator that sank under him with terrifying rapidity.

From The Pit by Norris, Frank

Before returning to a consciousness of his existence he experiences vertigoes.

From Scientific American Supplement, No. 497, July 11, 1885 by Various

Soon after that early period he became subject to vertigoes, which he thought indicative of a tendency to apoplexy; and was occasionally bled rather profusely, which only increased the symptoms.

From English Men of Letters: Crabbe by Ainger, Alfred

In a statement from the Senegal FA, team doctor Dr Abdourahmane Fedior said Mane had been "replaced due to the vertigos he had on the pitch" after scoring.

From BBC ● Jan. 26, 2022

"The forerunners of an apoplexy are dulness, vertigos, tremblings."—ARBUTHNOT: ib.

From The Grammar of English Grammars by Brown, Goold

He says further: "That, administered with great circumspection, it should prove useful in certain varieties of delirium, vertigos and cramps."

From New, Old, and Forgotten Remedies: Papers by Many Writers by Anshutz, Edward Pollock

The facets danced their vivid vertigos into his brain.

From The Flaw in the Sapphire by Snyder, Charles M.

From the period of his attack in February he had 190 been, from time to time, indisposed; and, more than once, had complained of vertigos, which made him feel, he said, as if intoxicated.

From Life of Lord Byron, Vol. 6 With His Letters and Journals by Moore, Thomas