insomnia

[ in-som-nee-uh ]
See synonyms for: insomniainsomnious on Thesaurus.com

noun
  1. inability to obtain sufficient sleep, especially when chronic; difficulty in falling or staying asleep; sleeplessness.

Origin of insomnia

1
First recorded in 1685–95; from Latin, equivalent to insomn(is) “sleepless” (in- in-3 + somn(us) “sleep” + -is, adjective suffix) + -ia -ia

Other words from insomnia

  • in·som·ni·ous, adjective

Words Nearby insomnia

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How to use insomnia in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for insomnia

insomnia

/ (ɪnˈsɒmnɪə) /


noun
  1. chronic inability to fall asleep or to enjoy uninterrupted sleep: Related adjective: agrypnotic

Origin of insomnia

1
C18: from Latin, from insomnis sleepless, from somnus sleep

Derived forms of insomnia

  • insomnious, adjective

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

Scientific definitions for insomnia

insomnia

[ ĭn-sŏmnē-ə ]


  1. Chronic inability to fall asleep or remain asleep for an adequate length of time.

The American Heritage® Science Dictionary Copyright © 2011. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

Cultural definitions for insomnia

insomnia

[ (in-som-nee-uh) ]


A persistent and prolonged inability to sleep.

The New Dictionary of Cultural Literacy, Third Edition Copyright © 2005 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.