anorexia

American  

[an-uh-rek-see-uh] / ˌæn əˈrɛk si ə /

noun

1. Psychiatry. anorexia nervosa.

2. loss of appetite and inability to eat.

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anorexia British  

/ ˌænɒˈrɛksɪə /

noun

1. loss of appetite

2. Also called: anorexia nervosa.  a disorder characterized by fear of becoming fat and refusal of food, leading to debility and even death

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anorexia Scientific  

/ ăn′ə-rĕk′sē-ə /

1. Loss of appetite, especially as a result of disease.

2. Anorexia nervosa.

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anorexia Cultural  

1. A short name for anorexia nervosa.

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Other Word Forms

• anorectic adjective

Etymology

Origin of anorexia

First recorded in 1590–1600; from New Latin, from Greek, from an- an- ¹ + órex(is) “appetite, desire, longing” (from orég(ein) “to reach, stretch” + -sis -sis ) + -ia -ia

Compare meaning

How does anorexia compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

• anorexia vs. anorexia nervosa
• bulimia vs. anorexia
• anorexia vs. obesity

Example Sentences

Clinical studies involving stroke, anorexia nervosa, and body integrity dysphoria suggest that problems with thermal perception can occur alongside disruptions in body ownership.

From Science Daily • Jan. 4, 2026

Food and Drug Administration to treat patients with AIDS-related anorexia and chemotherapy-induced nausea.

From The Wall Street Journal • Dec. 29, 2025

In her 2000 book Body Wars, psychologist Margo Maine wrote that, external if Barbie were scaled up to adult height, she would have a figure within the guidelines for diagnosing anorexia.

From BBC • Aug. 14, 2025

Clinicians continue to debate how best to define it, as orthorexia can share features of anorexia nervosa and obsessive-compulsive disorder.

From Slate • May 25, 2025

When an animal began showing signs of anorexia, its condition deteriorated rapidly.

From "The Hot Zone" by Richard Preston