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

Explanation

Anorexia is a serious medical disorder in which someone has no appetite, and so doesn't eat. If someone you know becomes so thin that it alarms you, they might have anorexia. Anorexia means "no appetite" in Greek. The full name of the medical disorder is anorexia nervosa, a very serious problem that causes people to starve themselves as the result of an emotional disturbance rather than a problem with food or digestion, or simply not being hungry.

Example Sentences

Anorexia nervosa, also known as anorexia, is an eating disorder and serious mental health condition that can cause individuals to limit how much they eat or drink.

From BBC • Mar. 15, 2025

Anorexia nervosa is broadly defined by restrictive eating, often driven by a preoccupation with one’s weight or body shape.

From Slate • Jan. 4, 2025

More than 10,000 people will lose their life to the condition every year, according to data cited by the National Association of Anorexia Nervosa and Associated Disorders.

From Seattle Times • May 30, 2023

Anorexia and osteoporosis are linked because the eating disorder often takes place during adolescence, which is crucial time for bone development.

From Los Angeles Times • Jul. 6, 2022

Anorexia was usually complete during pyrexia, and not rarely patients were admitted to the hospital who asserted that for one or more days they had not taken any nourishment whatever.

From A System of Practical Medicine by American Authors, Vol. I Volume 1: Pathology and General Diseases by Various