formication

[ fawr-mi-key-shuh n ]
/ ˌfɔr mɪˈkeɪ ʃən /

noun

a tactile hallucination involving the belief that something is crawling on the body or under the skin.

Origin of formication

1700–10; < Latin (Pliny) formīcātiōn-, stem of formīcātiō a sensation that ants are crawling on one's skin, equivalent to formicā(re) to have such a sensation (verbal derivative of formīca ant) + -tiōn- -tion

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH formication

formication fornication

Example sentences from the Web for formication

British Dictionary definitions for formication

formication
/ (ˌfɔːmɪˈkeɪʃən) /

noun

a sensation of insects crawling on the skin; symptom of a nerve disorder

Medical definitions for formication

formication
[ fôr′mĭ-kāshən ]

n.

An abnormal sensation as of insects running over or into the skin, associated with cocaine intoxication or disease of the spinal cord and peripheral nerves.