Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease

noun

Creutz·​feldt-Ja·​kob disease ˈkrȯits-ˌfelt-ˈyä-(ˌ)kōb- How to pronounce Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (audio)
variants or less commonly Creutzfeld-Jakob disease
: a rare progressive fatal encephalopathy caused by a prion and marked by development of porous brain tissue, premature dementia in middle age, and gradual loss of muscular coordination

Examples of Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease in a Sentence

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Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Jones battled Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease for nearly three years, according to Illinois. — Colleen Kane, Chicago Tribune, 18 Feb. 2025 She was drawn to the topic after a neighbor and friend fell ill with Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease and died within weeks. — Christie Wilcox, science.org, 27 Dec. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Hans G. Creutzfeldt †1964 German psychiatrist and Alfons M. Jakob †1931 German psychiatrist

First Known Use

1963, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease was in 1963

Rhymes for Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease

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creutzer
Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease
crevalle
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“Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Creutzfeldt-Jakob%20disease. Accessed 27 Mar. 2025.

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Medical Definition

Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease

noun
Creutz·​feldt-Ja·​kob disease
variants also Creutzfeld-Jakob disease
ˌkrȯits-ˌfelt-ˌyä-(ˌ)kōb- How to pronounce Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (audio)
: a rare progressive fatal prion disease marked by the development of porous brain tissue, premature dementia in middle age, and gradual loss of muscular coordination
—abbreviation CJD

called also Jakob-Creutzfeldt disease

see variant creutzfeldt-jakob disease

More from Merriam-Webster on Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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