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Synonyms

migraine

American  
[mahy-greyn, mee-] / ˈmaɪ greɪn, ˈmi- /

noun

  1. an extremely severe paroxysmal headache, usually confined to one side of the head and often associated with nausea; hemicrania.

migraine British  
/ ˈmaɪ-, ˈmiːɡreɪn /

noun

  1. a throbbing headache usually affecting only one side of the head and commonly accompanied by nausea and visual disturbances

"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
migraine Scientific  
/ mī′grān′ /

  1. A severe recurring headache, usually affecting only one side of the head, that is characterized by sharp, throbbing pain and is often accompanied by nausea, vomiting, sensitivity to light, and visual disturbances. Vasodilation in the brain causes inflammation that results in pain, but the exact cause of migraine is unknown.

Other Word Forms

  • migrainoid adjective
  • migrainous adjective

Etymology

Origin of migraine

First recorded in 1325–75; Middle English, from Middle French, from Late Latin hēmicrānia hemicrania; megrim

Compare meaning

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Explanation

A migraine is a severe headache. When you get a migraine, you'll probably want to stay in bed, in a dark room, until it passes. When you get a headache that's so painful that you can't work or function, you've probably got a migraine. It's usually women who get migraines, and you are either a person who gets migraines throughout your life, or you never get one at all. Migraines often come with side effects like nausea and blurred vision, and they often affect just one side of the head. The word comes from the Greek hemi-, "half" and kranion, "skull."

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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.

Pfizer acquired the migraine medication through its purchase of Biohaven Pharmaceuticals in 2022.

From Barron's • Feb. 3, 2026

They had 14% higher odds of reporting two or more conditions, including migraine, back problems, cancer, epilepsy or diabetes.

From Science Daily • Jan. 24, 2026

Amgen said it would sell its migraine drug Aimovig for $299 a month, nearly 60% off the list price.

From The Wall Street Journal • Dec. 19, 2025

Most of the medications included so far treat everyday conditions like atopic dermatitis, migraine, obesity and fertility.

From MarketWatch • Dec. 19, 2025

It smells, but the migraine is fading away.

From "They Both Die at the End" by Adam Silvera

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

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.