Words / B1

in-SOMN-ee-uh/ɪnˈsɒmniə/

Insomnia is finding it hard to sleep: suffer from insomnia; chronic insomnia. Sleeplessness is a plain twin. Insomniac is the person. Uncountable in this medical sense: not “an insomnia” for the condition (you can say a bout of insomnia). Do not use it for one late night before an exam unless it is a pattern.

Meaning

The condition of finding it hard to sleep.

Examples

• “Exam stress gave her insomnia for a week.”
• “Shift work left him with insomnia for months.”
• “Cut caffeine if you have insomnia in exam week, not only on the night before.”

Good to know

suffer from insomnia (uncountable). Plain: sleeplessness. Person: insomniac. One late night ≠ the condition.

Near in meaning

sleeplessness

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