Tourette's syndrome

noun

: a familial neurological disorder of variable expression that is characterized by recurrent involuntary tics involving body movements (such as eye blinks or grimaces) and vocalizations (such as grunts or utterance of inappropriate words), often has one or more associated conditions (such as obsessive-compulsive disorder), is more common in males than females, and usually has an onset in childhood and often stabilizes or ameliorates in adulthood

Examples of Tourette's syndrome in a Sentence

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It is used in the treatment of neurological conditions including Parkinson's disease, epilepsy and Tourette's syndrome. Mary Kekatos, ABC News, 12 June 2024 Lewis Capaldi at Glastonbury | Credit: Harry Durrant/Getty Images Capaldi recently opened up about several health struggles, including his battle with Tourette's syndrome, which produces involuntary body movements and vocal outbursts, as well as anxiety. Joey Nolfi, EW.com, 27 June 2023

Word History

Etymology

Georges Gille de la Tourette †1904 French physician

First Known Use

1970, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of Tourette's syndrome was in 1970

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Cite this Entry

“Tourette's syndrome.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Tourette%27s%20syndrome. Accessed 1 Apr. 2025.

Medical Definition

Tourette's syndrome

noun
variants or Tourette syndrome
: a familial neurological disorder of variable expression that is characterized by multiple recurrent involuntary tics involving body movements (as eye blinks, grimaces, or knee bends) and vocalizations (as grunts, snorts, or utterance of inappropriate words), that often has one or more associated conditions (as attention deficit hyperactivity disorder or obsessive-compulsive behavior), that is more common in males than females, and that usually has an onset in childhood and often stabilizes or ameliorates in adulthood
abbreviation TS

called also Gilles de la Tourette syndrome, Tourette's disease, Tourette's disorder

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