parkinsonism

noun

par·​kin·​son·​ism ˈpär-kən-sə-ˌni-zəm How to pronounce parkinsonism (audio)
1
: parkinson's disease
2
: a neurological disorder resembling Parkinson's disease

Examples of parkinsonism in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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.
Those with parkinsonism were compared to those without to identify the types of pathologies that may explain why some individuals with CTE develop these symptoms, and to examine relationships with duration of contact sports play. — Rick Sobey, Boston Herald, 16 July 2024 However, the present study is the first to describe a link between contact sport participation, brainstem pathology, and parkinsonism in CTE. — Rick Sobey, Boston Herald, 16 July 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1923, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of parkinsonism was in 1923

Rhymes for parkinsonism

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Browse Nearby Words

parkinsonian
parkinsonism
parkish
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Cite this Entry

“Parkinsonism.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/parkinsonism. Accessed 29 Mar. 2025.

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Medical Definition

parkinsonism

noun
par·​kin·​son·​ism ˈpär-kən-sə-ˌniz-əm How to pronounce parkinsonism (audio)
variants or Parkinsonism
1
: parkinson's disease
2
: any of several neurological disorders that are characterized by symptoms (such as muscle rigidity, slowness of movement, and impaired balance) similar to those of Parkinson's disease but have an attributable cause (such as drugs, toxins, brain injury, infection, or neurodegenerative disease) resulting in low levels or blocked activity of dopamine

called also parkinsonian syndrome, Parkinson's syndrome

More from Merriam-Webster on parkinsonism

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about parkinsonism

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