Definition

Noctambulation (noun): The act of walking while asleep.

Usage

• Noctambulation is a formal or medical term for the condition commonly known as sleepwalking. It describes the behavior of a person who gets up and walks around while still in a state of sleep.
• Example: "The doctor diagnosed the patient's nighttime wandering as noctambulation."
• Example: "Records of noctambulation date back centuries, often surrounded by superstition."

Advanced Usage

• The term is often used in clinical, psychological, or academic contexts rather than in everyday conversation.
• It can be used to describe the phenomenon in general or a specific instance of it.
• Example (academic): "The study focused on the neural activity associated with episodes of noctambulation."

Variants and Related Words

• Noctambulism (noun): A synonym for noctambulation, with identical meaning.
• Somnambulism (noun): The more common technical term for sleepwalking. It is often used interchangeably with noctambulation.
• Noctambulist (noun): A person who sleepwalks; a sleepwalker.
• Somnambulist (noun): A person who sleepwalks.

Synonyms

• Sleepwalking
• Somnambulism

Related Phrases

• Disorder of arousal: The clinical category under which noctambulation is often classified.
• Parasomnia: A broader term for undesirable behaviors or experiences during sleep, which includes noctambulation.

Noun

1. walking by a person who is asleep