acromegaly

American  

[ak-ruh-meg-uh-lee] / ˌæk rəˈmɛg ə li /

noun

Pathology.

1. a chronic disease characterized by enlargement of the bones of the head, the soft parts of the feet and hands, and sometimes other structures, due to excessive secretion of growth hormone by the pituitary gland.

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acromegaly British  

/ ˌækrəʊˈmɛɡəlɪ, ˌækrəʊmɪˈɡælɪk /

noun

1. a chronic disease characterized by enlargement of the bones of the head, hands, and feet, and swelling and enlargement of soft tissue, esp the tongue. It is caused by excessive secretion of growth hormone by the pituitary gland Compare gigantism

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Other Word Forms

• acromegalic adjective
• pseudoacromegaly noun

Etymology

Origin of acromegaly

1885–90; < French acromégalie < New Latin acromegalia. See acro-, -megaly

Compare meaning

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

• acromegaly vs. gigantism

Example Sentences

If untreated, acromegaly can lead to serious health problems and shorten life expectancy by about 10 years.

From Science Daily • Mar. 4, 2026

Today, about several hundred people with acromegaly live in County Tyrone.

From Washington Post • Jan. 24, 2023

According to his profile on the International Paralympic Committee website, he was diagnosed with acromegaly when he was younger.

From Fox News • Sep. 1, 2021

After puberty, when the long bones of the body are sealed, patients with acromegaly get bigger from soft-tissue enlargement but cannot grow taller.

From New York Times • Jun. 27, 2018

At first this case was erroneously diagnosed as acromegaly.

From Anomalies and Curiosities of Medicine by Pyle, Walter L. (Walter Lytle)