alopecia
Americannoun
noun
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Etymology
Origin of alopecia
First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English, from Latin, from Greek alōpekía “mange in foxes,” equivalent to alōpek- (stem of alṓpēx ) “fox” + -ia -ia
Explanation
Alopecia is a condition that causes hair loss and baldness. Some types of alopecia are caused by an immune system disorder. While most men experience alopecia, or balding, at some point in their lives, it's less common in women. The term alopecia applies to all types of hair loss, including balding caused by trauma, like tight ponytails, and fungal infections. Extreme forms of alopecia can result in loss of body hair as well. The Greek root of the word is alōpekia, literally "fox mange," from alōpēx, "fox."
Vocabulary lists containing alopecia
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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.
In androgenetic alopecia, a hormone called dihydrotestosterone plays a major role.
From Science Daily ● Jun. 7, 2026
She says dermatologists are also seeing an increase in young people with frontal fibrosing alopecia, where the front hairline starts to recede.
From BBC ● Jun. 6, 2026
After ruling out more serious autoimmune conditions, my new dermatologist did a scalp biopsy and finally diagnosed me with fibrosing alopecia in a pattern distribution, or FAPD, in which inflammation damages hair follicles via scarring.
From Slate ● May 23, 2026
Nektar Therapeutics’ rezpegaldesleukin showed nearly 40% of patients achieving 50% or better improvement in a Phase 2b alopecia areata trial.
From Barron's ● Apr. 20, 2026
What is the prognosis in the various varieties of alopecia?
From Essentials of Diseases of the Skin Including the Syphilodermata Arranged in the Form of Questions and Answers Prepared Especially for Students of Medicine by Stelwagon, Henry Weightman
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.
