Definition

1. Noun:
   • A neurological disorder: "Epilepsy" is a chronic disorder of the central nervous system characterized by recurrent, unprovoked seizures. These seizures are caused by sudden, excessive electrical discharges in a group of brain cells.

Usage and Examples

• Noun:
  • She was diagnosed with epilepsy as a child.
  • Modern medication can help control the symptoms of epilepsy.
  • The foundation raises funds for epilepsy research.

Advanced Usage

• "to have epilepsy": to be diagnosed with the disorder.
  • He has lived with epilepsy for most of his life.
• "suffering from epilepsy": experiencing the effects of the disorder (note: many prefer person-first language like "person with epilepsy").
  • The documentary highlighted the challenges of people suffering from epilepsy.

Variants and Related Words

• Epileptic (adj): relating to or having epilepsy.
  • He experienced an epileptic seizure.
• Epileptic (n): a person who has epilepsy (this term can be considered outdated or insensitive; "person with epilepsy" is often preferred).
  • The clinic provides support for epileptics. (Better: ...for people with epilepsy.)

Synonyms

• Seizure disorder: a more descriptive, clinical synonym.
• Falling sickness: an archaic term for epilepsy.

Related Phrases and Collocations

• Epilepsy awareness: efforts to educate the public about the condition.
  • The march was held to promote epilepsy awareness.
• Epilepsy syndrome: a specific type of epilepsy with a characteristic set of symptoms.
  • He was diagnosed with a rare epilepsy syndrome.
• Refractory epilepsy: epilepsy that does not respond to standard medications.
  • She is exploring surgical options for her refractory epilepsy.

Noun

1. a disorder of the central nervous system characterized by loss of consciousness and convulsions