adjective
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of, relating to, having, or caused by an allergy
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informal having an aversion (to)
he's allergic to work
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of allergic
Explanation
If you're allergic, your body has an exaggerated response to some substance, like cat dander or pollen, that makes you sneeze or get itchy. Many people are allergic to dust. If you have an allergy to something, your immune system goes crazy when you come in contact with it: if this happens to you, you're allergic. You might be allergic to certain plants, and spend the spring with itchy eyes, for example, or sneeze every time you pet your best friend's dog. Allergic comes from allergy, from the German Allergie, which is rooted in the Greek word allos, "other, different, or strange."
Vocabulary lists containing allergic
This Week in Words: Current Events Vocab for February 17–February 23, 2024
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This Week in Words: Current Events Vocab for May 14–May 20, 2022
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Jess and Layla's Astronomical Assignment
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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.
What to be aware of: If you want a colour change with a spray or dye, do a patch test first to check you are not allergic.
From BBC ● Jul. 30, 2026
Setting one’s expectations as low as the recent ratings for Emmy night telecasts is good practice because the Television Academy is notoriously allergic to change.
From Salon ● Jul. 9, 2026
If No. 7 seed Gauff has been somewhat allergic to grass, metaphorically speaking, Muchova literally is.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 8, 2026
In March, an Afghan man who once fought alongside U.S. troops died of an allergic reaction.
From Slate ● Jul. 8, 2026
“Because I’m allergic to animals with fur. I get hives all over my arms and legs.”
From "A Mango-Shaped Space" by Wendy Mass
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
