allergic

American  

[uh-lur-jik] / əˈlɜr dʒɪk /

adjective

1. of or relating to allergy.

   an allergic reaction to wool.

2. having an allergy.

3. Informal. having a strong dislike or aversion.

   He's allergic to most modern music.

---

allergic British  

/ əˈlɜːdʒɪk /

adjective

1. of, relating to, having, or caused by an allergy

2. informal having an aversion (to)

   he's allergic to work

---

Other Word Forms

• unallergic adjective

Etymology

Origin of allergic

First recorded in 1910–15; allerg(y) + -ic

Example Sentences

“I can handle a brief interaction with a cat, but once it’s more than 45 minutes in an enclosed space, I start to experience an allergic reaction.”

From The Wall Street Journal

"Oh, Sam," she said, "you know how much we would love to have a dog. But Daddy's allergic to dogs."

From Literature

Bat loved peanut butter, but he could never pack peanut butter sandwiches for school lunches because Lin was allergic to peanuts.

From Literature

“I can handle a brief interaction with a cat, but once it’s more than 45 minutes in an enclosed space, I start to experience an allergic reaction,” the mayor said.

From The Wall Street Journal

You are a beginning or intermediate skier, allergic to long lift lines, more interested in peace and quiet than après-ski action.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• hypersensitive
• susceptible