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.
They compared alopecia rates among adults with type 2 diabetes who began treatment with GLP-1 receptor agonists, SGLT-2 inhibitors, or DPP-4 inhibitors.
From Science Daily ● Jul. 24, 2026
Large, carefully designed human trials would be necessary to confirm how well Polygonum multiflorum works for androgenetic alopecia and how safe it is across different groups of patients.
From Science Daily ● Jun. 7, 2026
For women living with hair loss - whether through cancer treatment, alopecia or ageing - breakthroughs like this hint at something once thought impossible: that hair loss can be reversed.
From BBC ● Jun. 3, 2026
Mann herself has alopecia and specializes in helping patients cope with hair loss.
From Slate ● May 23, 2026
This consists in avoiding conditions that may lead to alopecia and in correcting the diet.
From Common Diseases of Farm Animals by Craig, R. A., D. V. M.
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.
