dystrophy

American  

[dis-truh-fee] / ˈdɪs trə fi /

Also dystrophia

noun

1. Medicine/Medical. faulty or inadequate nutrition or development.

2. Pathology. any of a number of disorders characterized by weakening, degeneration, or abnormal development of muscle.

3. Ecology. the state of being dystrophic.

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dystrophy British  

/ ˈdɪstrəfɪ /

noun

1. any of various bodily disorders, characterized by wasting of tissues See also muscular dystrophy

2. ecology a condition of lake water when it is too acidic and poor in oxygen to support life, resulting from excessive humus content

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Other Word Forms

• dystrophic
  adjective

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Etymology

Origin of dystrophy

From the New Latin word dystrophia, dating back to 1885–90. See dys-, -trophy

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

dystrophy

Nunez Landry has muscular dystrophy, uses a power wheelchair, and needs help doing basic tasks such as opening the refrigerator.

From Salon ● Oct. 31, 2026

The trial measured how long it took patients with myotonic dystrophy type 1 to open their hand after gripping.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 8, 2026

Separately, Novartis on Monday disclosed another Phase 3 failure of an experimental treatment for people with myotonic dystrophy type 1, which came from its $12 billion acquisition of Avidity Biosciences last year.

From MarketWatch ● Sep. 8, 2026

A really wonderful guy, sort of a self-advocate and kind of a grump, total badass activist who has muscular dystrophy and has a tracheotomy.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 6, 2026

There were tiny babies with club feet, children who had paralyzed limbs from polio, adolescents dying from muscular dystrophy.

From "My Life with the Chimpanzees" by Jane Goodall

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