Showing results for hyperkinesia. Search instead for hyperkinetic.

hyperkinesia

American

[hahy-per-ki-nee-zhuh, -zhee-uh, -zee-uh, -kahy-] / ˌhaɪ pər kɪˈni ʒə, -ʒi ə, -zi ə, -kaɪ- /

Also hyperkinesis

noun

Pathology. an abnormal amount of uncontrolled muscular action; spasm.
Psychiatry. a disorder occurring in children and adolescents, characterized by excessive activity, extreme restlessness, impulsivity, and a short attention span.

hyperkinesia British

/ ˌhaɪpəkɪˈniːzɪə, -kaɪ-, -kaɪ-, ˌhaɪpəkɪˈnɛtɪk, ˌhaɪpəkɪˈniːsɪs, -kaɪ- /

noun

excessive movement, as in a muscle spasm
extreme overactivity in children

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Word Forms

hyperkinetic adjective

Etymology

Origin of hyperkinesia

First recorded in 1840–50; hyper- + -kinesia

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

The condition can cause inflammation in the brain, and neurological symptoms like seizures and hyperkinesia.

From Salon

Human parallels In addition to hyperactivity, the mice displayed a combination of mania-like behaviors and seizures, which are indicative of a disorder called hyperkinesia.

From Scientific American

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023