Parkinson's disease

noun

Par·​kin·​son's disease ˈpär-kən-sənz- 

variants or less commonly Parkinson disease or Parkinson's or Parkinson's syndrome

: a chronic progressive neurological disease chiefly of later life that is linked to decreased dopamine production in the substantia nigra and is marked especially by tremor of resting muscles, rigidity, slowness of movement, impaired balance, and a shuffling gait

called also paralysis agitans

Examples of Parkinson's disease in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The Food and Drug Administration on Monday granted its first approval for a pacemaker-like device for the brain to ease symptoms of Parkinson's disease, which affects nearly 1 million people in the United States. —Maya Goldman, Axios, 25 Feb. 2025

Here's what to know about deep brain stimulation for Parkinson's disease. —Alice Park, TIME, 24 Feb. 2025

Per the Chicago Sun-Times, Butler died on Thursday, Feb. 20 after being diagnosed with Parkinson's disease, a family friend told the publication. —Victoria Edel, People.com, 21 Feb. 2025

Nicholas Mangione's wife, Mary, died of Parkinson's disease complications at the age of 92 in March 2023, according to an obituary in The Baltimore Sun. —Tom Rogers, Newsweek, 21 Feb. 2025

Word History

Etymology

James Parkinson †1824 English physician

First Known Use

1877, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for Parkinson's disease

• ferromanganese
• mephistopheles
• ostracods
• abcs
• absentees
• addressees
• adoptees
• allottees
• amputees
• antifreeze
• appellees
• appointees

Kids Definition

Parkinson's disease

noun

Par·​kin·​son's disease ˈpär-kən-sənz- 

: a disease chiefly of later life that tends to get steadily worse and is marked especially by stiff and trembling muscles, slowness of movement, and a shuffling way of walking

Medical Definition

Parkinson's disease

noun

Par·​kin·​son's disease ˈpär-kən-sənz- 

variants also Parkinson disease

-sən-

or Parkinson's

: a chronic progressive neurological disease chiefly of later life that is linked to decreased dopamine production in the substantia nigra, is of unknown cause, and is marked especially by tremor of resting muscles, rigidity, slowness of movement, impaired balance, and a shuffling gait

called also paralysis agitans, parkinsonian syndrome, parkinsonism, Parkinson's syndrome