dwarfism

[ dwawr-fiz-uhm ]

noun

1. the condition of having abnormally small physical stature resulting from a medical or genetic condition, as achondroplasia or some other disease that produces disproportion or deformation of features and limbs.

dwarfism

/ ˈdwɔːfɪzəm /

noun

1. the condition of being a dwarf

dwarfism

/ dwôr′fĭz′əm /

1. Abnormally short stature, usually caused by a hereditary disorder.

Word History and Origins

Origin of dwarfism¹

First recorded in 1860–65; dwarf + -ism

Example Sentences

Achondroplasia is the most common form of skeletal dysplasia or dwarfism, affecting around one in 20,000 babies in Australia.

From Science Daily

Jaydi Hawker, 11, has a form of dwarfism thought to affect fewer than 50 people in the world.

From BBC

"She was diagnosed with a form of dwarfism and her legs did not fully develop so she was on medication twice a day," she said.

From BBC

Less so, we should say, than the fact that such meaty roles remain rare for actors with dwarfism, as the granddaughter of Jack Purvis, who plays Wally in the original movie, pointed out in 2022.

From Salon

The mutation leaves them with ineffective growth hormone receptors and results in a type of dwarfism.

From Science Daily