Neurology
noun /njʊˈrɒl.ə.dʒi/ — The branch of medicine dealing with the nervous system.
Definition
The medical specialty concerned with the diagnosis and treatment of disorders of the nervous system — brain, spinal cord, and peripheral nerves. Neurology sits at the intersection of the mechanical (nerve impulses) and the profound (consciousness, personality, self).
Beyond the definition
Neurology is the medicine closest to philosophy — because the nervous system is where the physical and the personal meet. A neurological event can change who someone is, not just how they feel.
Origin & history
From Greek 'neuron' (nerve) + 'logos' (study). The systematic study of the nervous system developed in the 19th century.
Example sentences
Illustrative sentences for learning, not verified community posts or sourced quotations.
The neurologist explained the stroke as a plumbing problem — but what it had taken from him was a word: his wife's name.
Neurology gives us the language to describe what damage does to persons: aphasia, amnesia, agnosia — the vocabulary of loss.
She went into neurology because the brain was the only organ that could ask questions about itself.
How to use it
This entry uses a noun. Follow the examples for articles and singular or plural forms; not every noun takes “a” or “an.”
Choose “Neurology” when the meaning fits your context: The medical specialty concerned with the diagnosis and treatment of disorders of the nervous system — brain, spinal cord, and peripheral nerves. Neurology sits at the intersection of the mechanical (nerve impulses) and the profound (consciousness, personality, self).
Synonyms
brain medicine, nerve medicine, clinical neuroscience
Related words
Neurology vs psychiatry
Neurology deals with the biological disorders of the nervous system and brain structure. Psychiatry focuses on the diagnosis and treatment of mental, emotional, and behavioral disorders.
Word in the Wild
See how this word appears in life, language and stories.
Illustrative sentences and imagined stories for learning — not verified sightings, interviews, or sourced quotations.
Fictional scene
Nerve Cell Structural Study
A scientist examines a microscopic view featuring a branching neuron and associated cellular membranes.
This image highlights the biological study of nerve cells. The neuron is the pictured clue representing the physical structure of the nervous system, distinct from higher-order psychological concepts.
Image credit: Wordspun · AI-generated conceptual illustration
Questions about this word
What does "Neurology" mean?
Neurology is noun meaning: The branch of medicine dealing with the nervous system.. The medical specialty concerned with the diagnosis and treatment of disorders of the nervous system — brain, spinal cord, and peripheral nerves. Neurology sits at the intersection of the mechanical (nerve impulses) and the profound (consciousness, personality, self).
Where does the word "Neurology" come from?
From Greek 'neuron' (nerve) + 'logos' (study). The systematic study of the nervous system developed in the 19th century.