amyotrophic lateral sclerosis

noun

amyo·​tro·​phic lateral sclerosis ˌā-ˌmī-ə-ˈtrō-fik- How to pronounce amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (audio) -ˈträ- How to pronounce amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (audio)
: a rare progressive degenerative fatal disease affecting the motor neurons, usually beginning in middle age, and characterized especially by increasing and spreading muscular weakness and atrophy
abbreviation ALS

called also Lou Gehrig's disease

Examples of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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Dane disclosed in April that he had been diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, a neurodegenerative disease that affects nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord and causes loss of muscle control. Rick Porter, HollywoodReporter, 20 Oct. 2025 Gehrig had actually been forced to retire from playing earlier that season after he was diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, but remained the team’s honorary captain. Rachel Cormack, Robb Report, 20 Oct. 2025 Earlier this year, the actor revealed to PEOPLE that he's been diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), also known as Lou Gehrig's Disease. Randall Colburn, Entertainment Weekly, 20 Oct. 2025 Neuralink has claimed to have achieved a new milestone in brain-computer interface technology, with an amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) patient successfully controlling a robotic arm using only his thoughts. Jijo Malayil, Interesting Engineering, 11 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis

Word History

Etymology

a- entry 2 + my- + -trophic

First Known Use

1875, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis was in 1875

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Cite this Entry

“Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/amyotrophic%20lateral%20sclerosis. Accessed 31 Oct. 2025.

Medical Definition

amyotrophic lateral sclerosis

noun
: a rare fatal progressive degenerative disease that affects pyramidal motor neurons, usually begins in middle age, and is characterized especially by increasing and spreading muscular weakness
abbreviation ALS

called also Lou Gehrig's disease

More from Merriam-Webster on amyotrophic lateral sclerosis

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