anemia

or a·nae·mi·a

[ uh-nee-mee-uh ]
See synonyms for anemia on Thesaurus.com
noun
  1. Pathology. a quantitative deficiency of the hemoglobin, often accompanied by a reduced number of red blood cells and causing pallor, weakness, and breathlessness.

  2. a lack of power, vigor, vitality, or colorfulness: His writing suffers from anemia.

Origin of anemia

1
First recorded in 1800–10; from New Latin, from Greek anaimía “bloodlessness, lack of blood”; see an-1, -emia

Other words from anemia

  • pseu·do·a·ne·mi·a, noun

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

British Dictionary definitions for anemia

anemia

/ (əˈniːmɪə) /


noun
  1. the usual US spelling of anaemia

Origin of anemia

1
C19: from New Latin, from Greek anaimia lack of blood

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

Scientific definitions for anemia

anemia

[ ə-nēmē-ə ]


  1. A deficiency in the oxygen-carrying component of the blood, as in the amount of hemoglobin or the number or volume of red blood cells. Iron deficiency, often caused by inadequate dietary consumption of iron, and blood loss are common causes of anemia. See also aplastic anemia hemolytic anemia and sickle cell anemia.

Other words from anemia

  • anemic adjective

The American Heritage® Science Dictionary Copyright © 2011. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

Cultural definitions for anemia

anemia

[ (uh-nee-mee-uh) ]


A condition in which the capacity of the blood to carry oxygen is decreased because of too few red blood cells in circulation or because of too little hemoglobin.

Notes for anemia

Because people suffering from anemia often appear weak and pale, the term is frequently used to describe general apathy or weakness: “The team's performance has been pretty anemic these past few weeks.”

The New Dictionary of Cultural Literacy, Third Edition Copyright © 2005 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.