anemia

or a·nae·mi·a

[ uh-nee-mee-uh ]

noun

1. Pathology. a quantitative deficiency of the hemoglobin, often accompanied by a reduced number of red blood cells and causing pallor, weakness, and breathlessness.
2. a lack of power, vigor, vitality, or colorfulness:

   His writing suffers from anemia.

anemia

/ əˈniːmɪə /

noun

1. the usual US spelling of anaemia

anemia

/ ə-nē′mē-ə /

1. A deficiency in the oxygen-carrying component of the blood, as in the amount of hemoglobin or the number or volume of red blood cells. Iron deficiency, often caused by inadequate dietary consumption of iron, and blood loss are common causes of anemia.
2. See also aplastic anemia

anemia

1. A condition in which the capacity of the blood to carry oxygen is decreased because of too few red blood cells in circulation or because of too little hemoglobin .

Notes

Because people suffering from anemia often appear weak and pale, the term is frequently used to describe general apathy or weakness: “The team's performance has been pretty anemic these past few weeks.”

Other Words From

• pseudo·a·nemi·a noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of anemia¹

First recorded in 1800–10; from New Latin, from Greek anaimía “bloodlessness, lack of blood”; an- ¹, -emia

Word History and Origins

Origin of anemia¹

C19: from New Latin, from Greek anaimia lack of blood

Example Sentences

When I was a medical student in my native Oklahoma, I treated a young woman with a calm smile and severe anemia.

From The Daily Beast

But no one could figure out the cause of her anemia until someone asked her more carefully about her diet.

From The Daily Beast

Its relationship to anemia, however, is more complex than the cause-and-effect sequence I learned in medical school.

From The Daily Beast

MDS is a relatively rare condition that can lead to a depletion of red or white blood cells, anemia, heavy bleeding.

From The Daily Beast

The three anti-anemia drugs have cost the government a reported $60 billion since 1989.

From The Daily Beast

It occurs in well-marked cases of pernicious anemia and leukemia, and, much less commonly, in very severe symptomatic anemias.

From Project Gutenberg

In pernicious anemia they are always greatly diminished, and an increase should exclude the diagnosis of this disease.

From Project Gutenberg

(b) In secondary anemia plaques are generally increased, although sometimes decreased.

From Project Gutenberg

Megaloblasts are found in pernicious anemia, and with extreme rarity in any other condition.

From Project Gutenberg

Pathologically, normoblasts occur in severe symptomatic anemia, leukemia, and pernicious anemia.

From Project Gutenberg