insomnia

[ in-som-nee-uh ]

noun

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

insomnia

/ ɪnˈsɒmnɪə /

noun

1. chronic inability to fall asleep or to enjoy uninterrupted sleep agrypnotic

insomnia

/ ĭn-sŏm′nē-ə /

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

insomnia

1. A persistent and prolonged inability to sleep.

Derived Forms

• inˈsomnious, adjective

Other Words From

• in·somni·ous adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of insomnia¹

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of insomnia¹

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

Example Sentences

Sangeeta, who goes by one name, is overwhelmed every day as she juggles work, household chores and childcare while enduring severe hot flashes, fatigue, insomnia, backache and abdominal pain.

From BBC

Judith Martinez, 32, a nonprofit founder in Los Angeles, says the election feels like an existential crisis and has contributed to bouts of insomnia.

From Los Angeles Times

As someone who has long suffered from insomnia and who feels energized when there are bits of whimsy in my day, I wondered: Has Nintendo just discovered a better way to wake up?

From Los Angeles Times

Many were purporting to be benzodiazepines, such as diazepam, and insomnia treatments including temazepam and zolpidem.

From BBC

I found Democrats battling insomnia and altering travel plans, Republicans who were friendly to a reporter but suspicious of the mainstream media and an overriding sense of disillusionment.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• restlessness

More About Insomnia

What does insomnia mean?

Insomnia is the inability to fall asleep or stay asleep for an adequate amount of time.

Insomnia is often used casually to refer to occasional sleeplessness or a single instance of it. But in medical terms, insomnia typically refers to a condition involving a chronic inability to fall or stay asleep, meaning the inability is persistent and prolonged—it happens all the time.

A person who experiences insomnia can be called an insomniac.

Example: My insomnia gets worse when I’m under a lot of stress.

Where does insomnia come from?

The first records of insomnia come from the 1600s. It comes from the Latin insom(nis), meaning “without sleep.” This is formed from the prefix in–, in this case meaning “not,” the root somn(us), meaning “sleep,” and the ending -ia, which is used in the names of diseases.

Insomnia is the most common sleep disorder—around a third of adults may experience it at some point in their lives. It can be acute (lasting one night to a few weeks) or chronic (three or more nights a week for three months or more). Some cases of insomnia are labeled as primary, meaning they’re not caused by another medical condition. Those that are caused by another medical condition are called secondary. Primary insomnia is very often caused by things like stress, changes in sleep schedule, or an environment that’s not good for sleeping (like a room that’s too loud or bright). For instance, the worry and stress that can come with a major life change can cause acute primary insomnia. Secondary insomnia can be caused by things like anxiety, depression, asthma, and sleep apnea (a condition in which a person repeatedly stops breathing and starts again during sleep).

Clinically speaking, insomnia usually refers to sleeplessness so bad that it regularly disrupts a person’s daily life with problems like fatigue and inability to concentrate. Still, the word is commonly used when talking about minor difficulties in falling asleep, as in I was so excited about the trip that I had insomnia last night—it took me an hour to fall asleep!

In general, a sleep dysfunction like insomnia is called a parasomnia, and the names of many of these disorders are based on the same root word, including somnambulism (sleepwalking) and hypersomnia (excessive sleeping).

Did you know ... ?

What are some other forms related to insomnia?

• insomniac (noun)
• insomnius (adjective)

What are some synonyms for insomnia?

• sleeplessness
• wakefulness
• insomnolence

What are some words that share a root or word element with insomnia? 

 

• hypersomnia
• parasomnia
• somnambulism
• somnolent 

What are some words that often get used in discussing insomnia?

 

• sleep
• asleep
• awake
• chronic
• symptom
• night
• anxiety
• depression
• cause

How is insomnia used in real life?

Insomnia is a medical term that refers to chronic sleeplessness, but it is also commonly used in a casual way to refer to not being able to fall asleep in any situation.

Treating insomnia may help cure depression. http://t.co/qcgwCwUidx

— NYT National News (@NYTNational) November 19, 2013

Anxiety, stress, and depression are some of the most common causes of chronic insomnia. Having difficulty sleeping can also make anxiety, stress, and depression symptoms worse. Other common emotional and psychological causes include anger worry grief bipolar disorder and trauma

— Mr. B (@esteticSushi) April 6, 2020

Me: I think I might go to sleep early tonight

My insomnia: HAHAHAHA

— Shannonミ☆ (@cangelsCordelia) April 7, 2020

 

 

Try using insomnia!

Is insomnia used correctly in the following sentence? 

I always wake up feeling refreshed after a full night of insomnia.