adj
epileptic
eh-pih-LEHP-tihk
adj
1
Relating to epilepsy or to people who have it.
"She was rushed to hospital after an epileptic seizure."
"The school keeps a record of any pupil's epileptic condition in case of an emergency."
noun
1
A person who has epilepsy.
"His brother, an epileptic since childhood, always carries his medication with him."
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.
Common mistake
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.
Common pairings
epileptic seizure
epileptic fit
epileptic episode
Word Forms
epileptics plural
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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.