Dictionary.com
Thesaurus.com
Synonyms

cachexia

American  
[kuh-kek-see-uh] / kəˈkɛk si ə /
Also cachexy

noun

Pathology.
  1. general ill health with emaciation, usually occurring in association with cancer or a chronic infectious disease.


cachexia British  
/ kəˈkɛksɪə, kəˈkɛksɪ /

noun

  1. a generally weakened condition of body or mind resulting from any debilitating chronic disease

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

cachexia Scientific  
/ kə-kĕk′sē-ə /
  1. Severe weight loss, anorexia, and general debility that occur as a result of chronic disease. Cachetic patients exhibit signs of malnutrition, including muscle wasting.


Other Word Forms


Etymology

Origin of cachexia

1535–45; < Late Latin < Greek, equivalent to kak ( ós ) bad + héx ( is ) condition ( hek-, variant stem of échein to have + -sis -sis ) + -ia -ia


Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

See Examples For:

"This discovery could have implications for cancer patients who experience cachexia, or muscle wasting due to the disease and its treatments."

From Science Daily ● May 21, 2024

His fellow cachexia researchers have been eagerly sharing the study on social media, he says, “and it seems like they’re really excited to follow up on it.”

From Science Magazine ● Apr. 2, 2024

Several years earlier, other international forensics experts had already rejected the official cause of death as cachexia, or weakness and wasting of the body due to chronic illness — in his case, cancer.

From Seattle Times ● Feb. 20, 2024

It found inmates were "significantly malnourished" and dealing with a condition called cachexia, also known as wasting syndrome.

From BBC ● Aug. 15, 2023

The inability to maintain the nutrition is evidenced by loss of weight and the rapid development of cachexia.

From Bronchoscopy and Esophagoscopy A Manual of Peroral Endoscopy and Laryngeal Surgery by Chevalier Jackson

Random Word

Spin the wheel and learn a new word!

Get a word


Vocabulary.com logo
by dictionary.com

Dictionary.com's Learning Companion

Go beyond just looking up words.
Remember them forever with VocabTrainer.

Start training