ataxia
noun
atax·ia ə-ˈtak-sē-ə 
(ˌ)ā-
: an inability to coordinate voluntary muscular movements that is symptomatic of some central nervous system disorders and injuries and not due to muscle weakness
called also incoordination
ataxic
ə-ˈtak-sik
adjective (ˌ)ā-
Example Sentences
Recent Examples on the Web Trantham has Friedreich's ataxia (FA), a rare genetic disease that is slowly robbing her of the ability to walk and talk, and can also affect her heart. 
Amy Eskind, PEOPLE.com, 2 Dec. 2021 Cerebellar ataxia, a rare genetic disease that causes the brain’s cerebellum to shrink, affecting muscle movement, coordination and balance, particularly in the arms and legs. San Diego Union-Tribune, 3 Oct. 2021 The second drug is Omaveloxolone, which will treat Friedreich’s ataxia, a genetic disease that often starts in childhood and can lead to brain and nervous system damage. Natalie Walters, Dallas News, 11 June 2020 The story of David and Charisse, who has cerebral palsy and ataxia, is documented in the second season of 9 Months with Courteney Cox, a Facebook Watch series. Ally Mauch, PEOPLE.com, 12 May 2020 Like her mother, Kathy, and her sister, Kaila, Keyshanna had cerebellar ataxia, a genetic disorder that affects the brain. Los Angeles Times, 15 Aug. 2019 Both have Friedreich’s ataxia, an incurable disease of the nervous system. New York Times, 24 Dec. 2019 As a final test, the researchers tried it on a mutant ataxia protein. John Timmer, Ars Technica, 1 Nov. 2019 As mentioned above, several forms of ataxia are caused by an expansion of the same amino acid that's duplicated in the Huntington's disease gene, and so these may undergo the same sort of interactions with these two chemicals. John Timmer, Ars Technica, 1 Nov. 2019 See More
Amy Eskind, PEOPLE.com, 2 Dec. 2021 Cerebellar ataxia, a rare genetic disease that causes the brain’s cerebellum to shrink, affecting muscle movement, coordination and balance, particularly in the arms and legs. San Diego Union-Tribune, 3 Oct. 2021 The second drug is Omaveloxolone, which will treat Friedreich’s ataxia, a genetic disease that often starts in childhood and can lead to brain and nervous system damage. Natalie Walters, Dallas News, 11 June 2020 The story of David and Charisse, who has cerebral palsy and ataxia, is documented in the second season of 9 Months with Courteney Cox, a Facebook Watch series. Ally Mauch, PEOPLE.com, 12 May 2020 Like her mother, Kathy, and her sister, Kaila, Keyshanna had cerebellar ataxia, a genetic disorder that affects the brain. Los Angeles Times, 15 Aug. 2019 Both have Friedreich’s ataxia, an incurable disease of the nervous system. New York Times, 24 Dec. 2019 As a final test, the researchers tried it on a mutant ataxia protein. John Timmer, Ars Technica, 1 Nov. 2019 As mentioned above, several forms of ataxia are caused by an expansion of the same amino acid that's duplicated in the Huntington's disease gene, and so these may undergo the same sort of interactions with these two chemicals. John Timmer, Ars Technica, 1 Nov. 2019 See More Word History
Etymology
borrowed from Greek ataxía "lack of discipline, disorder, confusion," from a- a- entry 2 + -taxia, from táxis "drawing up in rank and file, order of battle, order, arrangement" + -ia -ia entry 1 — more at taxis
First Known Use
1670, in the meaning defined above
Phrases Containing ataxia
Medical Definition
ataxia
noun
atax·ia ə-ˈtak-sē-ə, (ˈ)ā-
: an inability to coordinate voluntary muscular movements that is symptomatic of some disorders of the central nervous system