Definition

A medical condition where a person experiences sudden and uncontrollable episodes of deep sleep, which can happen at any time during the day.

Example

People with narcolepsy may fall asleep unexpectedly during the day, even in the middle of a conversation.

Conversation

Have you ever heard of narcolepsy?

Yeah, isn't it that condition where people suddenly fall asleep?

Exactly! I read that it can even cause hallucinations sometimes.

That's pretty wild — I can't imagine dealing with something like that.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Root Explanation

Narcolepsy is formed from "narco-" (from Greek "narkōsis", meaning numbness or sleep) and "lepsy" (from Greek "lepsis", meaning seizure or attack). The word describes a condition characterized by sudden attacks of sleep or numbness.

Memory Tip

Think of 'numbness' ('narco-') and 'seizures' ('lepsy') to remember that narcolepsy refers to sudden sleep attacks.

Visually Confused Words