1. a disease or disorder of the brain, especially one involving inflammation or degeneration of brain tissue
Usage: medical term; often used in clinical and scientific contexts

Examples

• The patient was diagnosed with hepatic encephalopathy, a serious complication of liver disease.
• Bovine spongiform encephalopathy, commonly known as mad cow disease, affected cattle herds in the 1990s.
• Encephalopathy can result from infections, toxins, or metabolic disorders.
• The doctor explained that the encephalopathy was causing the patient's confusion and memory loss.
• Chronic traumatic encephalopathy has been linked to repeated head injuries in athletes.
• Treatment of encephalopathy depends on identifying and addressing the underlying cause.