tourette
Tourette (verb) means to display the sudden, involuntary tics — movements or sounds — associated with Tourette syndrome. Example: “He tourettes a bit when he's stressed, letting out a sharp bark of a sound.”
How to use tourette
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishUsed casually as a verb to describe having a sudden tic or blurting something out involuntarily, the way someone with Tourette syndrome might.
Informal, and can come across as insensitive — it trivializes a real neurological condition, so it is best avoided in careful or medical writing.
Word forms
touretted past tense, tourettes singular
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
He _____ a bit when he's stressed, letting out a sharp bark of a sound.
Etymology
Verbed from the name of the French neurologist Georges Gilles de la Tourette, who first described the syndrome in 1885.
Rhymes for tourette
See all rhymes for tourette →Frequently asked questions
What does “tourette” mean?
The word “tourette” means to display the sudden, involuntary tics — movements or sounds — associated with Tourette syndrome. In plain terms, used casually as a verb to describe having a sudden tic or blurting something out involuntarily, the way someone with Tourette syndrome might.
How do you use “tourette” in a sentence?
Here is “tourette” used in a sentence: “He tourettes a bit when he's stressed, letting out a sharp bark of a sound.”
What part of speech is “tourette”?
“Tourette” is a verb.
Where does the word “tourette” come from?
The word “tourette” dates back to around 1885 and comes from French. Verbed from the name of the French neurologist Georges Gilles de la Tourette, who first described the syndrome in 1885.