dysphagia

American  

[dis-fey-juh, -jee-uh] / dɪsˈfeɪ dʒə, -dʒi ə /

noun

Pathology.

1. difficulty in swallowing.

---

dysphagia British  

/ dɪsˈfeɪdʒɪə, dɪsˈfædʒɪk /

noun

1. difficulty in swallowing, caused by obstruction or spasm of the oesophagus

---

dysphagia Scientific  

/ dĭs-fā′jə /

1. Difficulty in swallowing.

---

Other Word Forms

• dysphagic adjective

Etymology

Origin of dysphagia

First recorded in 1775–85; from New Latin, from Greek dys- dys- + phag(eîn) “to eat, devour” + -ia -ia

Compare meaning

How does dysphagia compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

• dysphagia vs. dysphasia

Example Sentences

He had severe acid reflux and a swallowing condition called dysphagia that caused milk to go down his windpipe instead of his esophagus, making him choke.

From Washington Times • Feb. 16, 2020

The cause was post-polio syndrome and chronic dysphagia, a difficulty in swallowing, said a daughter, Sarah Holt.

From Washington Post • Feb. 3, 2019

Confabulation, ataxia, dysarthria, dysphagia, hemiparesis: the mesmerizing names of neurological conditions mask cruelties.

From Nature • Jul. 17, 2018

His fiancée of 25 years, Denise Baker, said he died of dysphagia pneumonia at Palm Garden Nursing Home, where he had been admitted for hospice care recently.

From Seattle Times • Sep. 20, 2017

Dysphagia is the medical term for not being able to swallow, and I know that there are two kinds of dysphagia: oropharyngeal and esophageal.

From "Counting by 7s" by Holly Goldberg Sloan