dementia pugilistica
noun
dementia pu·gi·lis·ti·ca
-ˌpyü-jə-ˈli-sti-kə 
: chronic traumatic encephalopathy
Brain degeneration from repeated blows to the head has been known in boxers since the 1920s as dementia pugilistica, or punch-drunk syndrome.—
Luna Shyr
Luna ShyrExamples of dementia pugilistica in a Sentence
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By the fifties, punch-drunk syndrome was being described as dementia pugilistica and chronic traumatic encephalopathy.
—Ingfei Chen, The New Yorker, 11 Feb. 2023
And is there really a difference between dementia pugilistica and chronic traumatic encephalopathy?
—John Kass, chicagotribune.com, 22 Jan. 2021
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Ingfei Chen, The New Yorker, 11 Feb. 2023
And is there really a difference between dementia pugilistica and chronic traumatic encephalopathy?
—John Kass, chicagotribune.com, 22 Jan. 2021
Cite this Entry
“Dementia pugilistica.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/dementia%20pugilistica. Accessed 31 Oct. 2025.
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dementia pugilistica
noun
dementia pu·gi·lis·ti·ca
-ˌpyü-jə-ˈlis-tə-kə
: chronic traumatic encephalopathy
Brain degeneration from repeated blows to the head has been known in boxers since the 1920s as dementia pugilistica, or punch-drunk syndrome.—Luna Shyr, National Geographic
Luna Shyr, National GeographicLove words? Need even more definitions?
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