torticollis

noun

tor·​ti·​col·​lis ˌtȯr-tə-ˈkä-ləs How to pronounce torticollis (audio)
: an acute or chronic often painful condition characterized by involuntary intermittent or sustained contraction of the muscles of the neck (such as the sternocleidomastoid or trapezius) that causes the head to tilt or turn sideways, bend forward or backward, or jerk abnormally

Note: Torticollis may occur secondary to an injury or a preexisting condition (such as a musculoskeletal abnormality or a neurodegenerative disease) but is often of unknown cause.

called also wryneck

Examples of torticollis 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.
Researchers at Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center have learned that babies born with neonatal abstinence syndrome are more likely to have torticollis, an abnormal neck condition. —Anne Saker, Cincinnati.com, 28 June 2018

Word History

Etymology

New Latin, from Latin tortus twisted + -i- + collum neck — more at collar

First Known Use

circa 1811, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of torticollis was circa 1811

Rhymes for torticollis

See All Rhymes for torticollis

Browse Nearby Words

tortellini
torticollis
torticone
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Torticollis.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/torticollis. Accessed 4 Nov. 2025.

Copy Citation

Share

Medical Definition

torticollis

noun
tor·​ti·​col·​lis ˌtȯrt-ə-ˈkäl-əs How to pronounce torticollis (audio)
: an acute or chronic often painful condition characterized by involuntary intermittent or sustained contraction of the muscles of the neck (as the sternocleidomastoid or trapezius) that causes the head to tilt or turn sideways, bend forward or backward, or jerk abnormally

Note: Torticollis may occur secondary to injury or a preexisting condition (as musculoskeletal abnormality or neurodegenerative disease) but is often of unknown cause. When occurring in animals, torticollis may also be caused by bacterial or parasitic infection or nutritional imbalance.

called also wryneck

compare cervical dystonia

More from Merriam-Webster on torticollis

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about torticollis

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

Using Bullet Points ( • )

The Difference Between 'i.e.' and 'e.g.'

What’s the difference between ‘cemetery’ and ‘graveyard’?

Democracy or Republic: What's the difference?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

Skibidi, Mog & More: Gen Alpha Slang

13 Wonderful Words That You're Not Using (Yet)

Ten More Words from Taylor Swift Songs

Birds Say the Darndest Things

Even More Bird Names that Sound Like Insults (and Sometimes Are)
See More

Popular

See More

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

Skibidi, Mog & More: Gen Alpha Slang

13 Wonderful Words That You're Not Using (Yet)
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
pastel colored puzzle piece speech bubbles with shadows
Quiz: Find the Missing Link Figure out the word that fits both halves of the ...
See All