alopecia

American  

[al-uh-pee-shee-uh, -see-uh] / ˌæl əˈpi ʃi ə, -si ə /

noun

Pathology.

1. loss of hair; baldness.

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alopecia British  

/ ˌæləˈpiːʃɪə /

noun

1. loss of hair, esp on the head; baldness

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alopecia Scientific  

/ ăl′ə-pē′shə /

1. Loss of hair; baldness.

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Other Word Forms

• alopecic adjective

Etymology

Origin of alopecia

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English, from Latin, from Greek alōpekía “mange in foxes,” equivalent to alōpek- (stem of alṓpēx ) “fox” + -ia -ia

Example Sentences

It’s unclear whether an increasing number of people are experiencing hair loss, although some researchers say lifestyle and dietary habits can bring on early onset androgenetic alopecia.

From MarketWatch • Feb. 25, 2026

Even so, the review highlights how careful scientific study of traditional remedies can open the door to new treatment strategies for common conditions such as androgenetic alopecia.

From Science Daily • Feb. 9, 2026

Male pattern baldness, also known as androgenetic alopecia, is the most common type of hair loss in men which usually begins between the ages of 20-25 years, according to NICE.

From BBC • Sep. 4, 2025

“This is a really important ‘Red Table Talk’ on alopecia.

From Salon • Jun. 1, 2022

The accompanying illustration shows a case in which there was osseous depression of the cranium and a localized alopecia.

From Anomalies and Curiosities of Medicine by Pyle, Walter L. (Walter Lytle)