anorexia

[ an-uh-rek-see-uh ]

noun

1. Psychiatry. anorexia nervosa.
2. loss of appetite and inability to eat.

anorexia

/ ˌænɒˈrɛksɪə /

noun

1. loss of appetite
2. Also calledanorexia nervosanɜːˈvəʊsə a disorder characterized by fear of becoming fat and refusal of food, leading to debility and even death

anorexia

/ ăn′ə-rĕk′sē-ə /

1. Loss of appetite, especially as a result of disease.
2. Anorexia nervosa.

anorexia

1. A short name for anorexia nervosa .

Derived Forms

• ˌanoˈrectic, adjectivenoun

Word History and Origins

Origin of anorexia¹

First recorded in 1590–1600; from New Latin, from Greek, from an- an- ¹ + órex(is) “appetite, desire, longing” (from orég(ein) “to reach, stretch” + -sis -sis ) + -ia -ia

Word History and Origins

Origin of anorexia¹

C17: via New Latin from Greek, from an- + orexis appetite

Example Sentences

Social media wasn’t around 20 years ago when James, who is gay, first developed anorexia aged 14.

From BBC

It took eight years for him to recover from anorexia, but soon afterwards he developed bulimia.

From BBC

Mental illness, including anorexia, is often fetishized.

From Los Angeles Times

Alice is experiencing anorexia nervosa and body dysmorphia.

From BBC

A woman lived with a paralysed stomach for three years and was told she might die after doctors wrongly diagnosed her with anorexia.

From BBC