petit mal
noun
pe·tit mal
ˈpe-tē-ˌmal 
-ˌmäl
: epilepsy characterized by mild seizures marked by diminished awareness usually with a blank stare but not by loss of consciousness
also
: one of these seizures compare grand mal
Examples of petit mal in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Grand Mal and Petit Mal Seizures Grand mal and petit mal labels are not often used in clinical practice anymore, as seizure classification has become much more precise.
—
Smita Patel, Verywell Health, 19 July 2024
The spike-wave pattern of petit mal, referenced earlier, is a classic example, but scores of others are now known.
—Giridhar Kalamangalam, Discover Magazine, 4 Apr. 2024
Smita Patel, Verywell Health, 19 July 2024
The spike-wave pattern of petit mal, referenced earlier, is a classic example, but scores of others are now known.
—Giridhar Kalamangalam, Discover Magazine, 4 Apr. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'petit mal.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
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“Petit mal.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/petit%20mal. Accessed 5 Nov. 2024.
Copy CitationMedical Definition
petit mal
noun
pe·tit mal
ˈpet-ē-ˌmal
-ˌmäl
-ˌmäl
1
or petit mal epilepsy
: epilepsy characterized by absence seizures : absence epilepsy
also
: childhood absence epilepsy
2
or petit mal seizure
: absence seizure
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