hydrocephalus
noun
hy·dro·ceph·a·lus
ˌhī-drō-ˈse-fə-ləs 
variants
or less commonly hydrocephaly
: an abnormal increase in the amount of cerebrospinal fluid within the cranial cavity (as from obstructed flow, excess production, or defective absorption) that is accompanied by expansion of the cerebral ventricles and often increased intracranial pressure, skull enlargement, and cognitive decline
Examples of hydrocephalus in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Joel announced in May that he’d been diagnosed with normal pressure hydrocephalus (NPH), a treatable brain condition that can affect hearing, vision and balance.
—
Rachel Desantis, People.com, 21 July 2025
The earlier normal pressure hydrocephalus is caught and treated, the better.
—Sydney Lupkin, NPR, 24 May 2025
Normal pressure hydrocephalus: What is that, and what are symptoms of Billy Joel's condition?Need a break?
—Saman Shafiq, USA Today, 23 May 2025
Doctors often learn about normal pressure hydrocephalus and its three hallmark symptoms with this catchphrase: 'wet, wobbly and weird,' said Dr. Vikram Udani, a neurosurgeon in private practice in San Diego.
—Erika Edwards, NBC news, 23 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for hydrocephalus
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Rachel Desantis, People.com, 21 July 2025
The earlier normal pressure hydrocephalus is caught and treated, the better.
—Sydney Lupkin, NPR, 24 May 2025
Normal pressure hydrocephalus: What is that, and what are symptoms of Billy Joel's condition?Need a break?
—Saman Shafiq, USA Today, 23 May 2025
Doctors often learn about normal pressure hydrocephalus and its three hallmark symptoms with this catchphrase: 'wet, wobbly and weird,' said Dr. Vikram Udani, a neurosurgeon in private practice in San Diego.
—Erika Edwards, NBC news, 23 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for hydrocephalus
Cite this Entry
“Hydrocephalus.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/hydrocephalus. Accessed 4 Aug. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
hydrocephalus
noun
hy·dro·ceph·a·lus
ˌhī-drō-ˈsef-ə-ləs
variants
also hydrocephaly
: an abnormal condition in which an increased amount of cerebrospinal fluid causes an increase in the size of the ventricles of the brain and the size of the skull and the wasting away of the brain
Medical Definition
hydrocephalus
noun
hy·dro·ceph·a·lus
-ˈsef-ə-ləs, British also -ˈkef-
plural hydrocephali
-ˌlī
: an abnormal increase in the amount of cerebrospinal fluid within the cranial cavity (as from obstructed flow, excess production, or defective absorption) that is accompanied by expansion of the cerebral ventricles and often increased intracranial pressure, skull enlargement, and cognitive decline
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