epileptic
Epileptic (adj) means relating to epilepsy or to people who have it. Example: “She was rushed to hospital after an epileptic seizure.”
How to use epileptic
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishDescribes epilepsy, or someone who has it — most often used today for the medical condition ("an epileptic seizure") rather than as a label for a person.
Many style guides now prefer "a person with epilepsy" over calling someone "an epileptic," since the noun can feel reductive; the adjective ("epileptic seizure/fit") is still standard.
Word forms
epileptics plural
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
She was rushed to hospital after an _____ seizure.
Etymology
From Ancient Greek epilēptikós, from epilambánein, "to seize upon" — the same idea behind the word "epilepsy" itself.
Rhymes for epileptic
See all rhymes for epileptic →Frequently asked questions
What does “epileptic” mean?
The word “epileptic” means relating to epilepsy or to people who have it. In plain terms, describes epilepsy, or someone who has it — most often used today for the medical condition ("an epileptic seizure") rather than as a label for a person.
How do you pronounce “epileptic”?
“Epileptic” is pronounced eh-pih-LEHP-tihk (/ˌɛpɪˈlɛptɪk/ in IPA).
How do you use “epileptic” in a sentence?
Here is “epileptic” used in a sentence: “She was rushed to hospital after an epileptic seizure.”
What part of speech is “epileptic”?
Depending on how it is used, “epileptic” can be an adjective and a noun.
Where does the word “epileptic” come from?
The word “epileptic” comes from Ancient Greek. From Ancient Greek epilēptikós, from epilambánein, "to seize upon" — the same idea behind the word "epilepsy" itself.
How many meanings does “epileptic” have?
“Epileptic” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: relating to epilepsy or to people who have it.