English Reference

Word

epileptic

Phoneticsepilep·tic

US/ˌɛpəˈɫɛptɪk/

UK/ˌɛpɪlˈɛptɪk/

Definition

n. a person who has a medical condition that causes them to have seizures. This word is very old and not used much today.

n. a person suffering from epilepsy, a neurological disorder characterised by recurrent seizures. Historically used as a noun, though modern usage prefers the adjective form.

Examples

“The doctor treated the epileptic with a new medication.”

“In the nineteenth century, an epileptic was often misunderstood and treated with fear by the general public.”

“The historical records describe the life of an epileptic who managed to become a respected scholar despite the social stigma and physical challenges of his condition.”

Examples

simple

“The doctor treated the epileptic with a new medication.”

contextual

“In the nineteenth century, an epileptic was often misunderstood and treated with fear by the general public.”

complex

“The historical records describe the life of an epileptic who managed to become a respected scholar despite the social stigma and physical challenges of his condition.”

Real-World Examples

“The social aspect is also important for Ian, who cannot work due to living with uncontrollable epileptic seizures.”
BBC News · 20 Sept 2026

Etymology

From Ancient Greek ἐπιληπτικός (epilēptikós).

Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

Word family

epilepsyNounepilepticNoun

This entry

Level
C1 · Advanced
Frequency
Occasional
Updated

Scan code

englishreference.com/q/epileptic

English Reference