atrophy

American  

[a-truh-fee] / ˈæ trə fi /

noun

1. Pathology. Also atrophia a wasting away of the body or of an organ or part, as from defective nutrition or nerve damage.

2. degeneration, decline, or decrease, as from disuse.

   He argued that there was a progressive atrophy of freedom and independence of thought.

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verb (used with or without object)

atrophied, atrophying

1. to affect with or undergo atrophy.

atrophy British  

/ ˈætrəfɪ, əˈtrɒfɪk /

noun

1. a wasting away of an organ or part, or a failure to grow to normal size as the result of disease, faulty nutrition, etc

2. any degeneration or diminution, esp through lack of use

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verb

1. to waste away or cause to waste away

atrophy Scientific  

/ ăt′rə-fē /

1. A wasting or decrease in the size of an organ or tissue, as from death and reabsorption of cells, diminished proliferation of cells, pressure, lack of oxygen, malnutrition, decreased function, or hormonal changes.

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atrophy Cultural  

1. The wasting away or decrease in size of an organ or tissue in the body. When a body part is affected by paralysis, the muscles may atrophy through lack of use.

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Discover More

The term is also used in a more general way to refer to a wasting process: “Since he stopped playing, his piano skills have atrophied.”

Other Word Forms

• atrophic
  adjective
• nonatrophic
  adjective

Etymology

Origin of atrophy

First recorded in 1590–1600; earlier atrophie, from Middle French, from Late Latin atrophia, from Greek, from átroph(os) “not fed, unnourished” (from a- a- ⁶ + troph(ḗ) “nourishment” + -os, adjective suffix; see tropho-) + -ia -ia

Explanation

Wearing a cast on a broken leg can cause atrophy, or withering, in the leg, because it is immobilized and gets no exercise. Appearing in English in the 17th century, the word atrophy originally described a lack of nourishment. Atrophy occurs in parts of the body that can't move or be "fed" because of disease or injury. It also is used to describe things that go dull through lack of use, like skills in sports or artistic creativity. The (unrelated) word "trophy" refers to something that sits on a shelf and is admired, while atrophy is a condition of being "shelved," or made inactive and lifeless.

Example Sentences

Searle lives with a rare eyesight condition called Autosomal Dominant Optic Atrophy - which affects vision by causing the optic nerve to become progressively thinner.

From BBC • Jan. 2, 2026

Barefoot, who has Spinal Muscular Atrophy, has a close friend, Eli Shwaikeh, who “wants to be an NBA player and my goal is to coach him all the way.”

From Seattle Times • Jan. 7, 2023

Tests and lifesaving measures followed, with the parents finally receiving Declan’s diagnosis in November: Spinal Muscular Atrophy with Respiratory Distress Type 1.

From Washington Times • Mar. 6, 2021

Simon died after a two-year battle with the degenerative neurological disorder MSA, or Multiple System Atrophy.

From Los Angeles Times • Sep. 14, 2015

Atrophy of the uterus is normal after the menopause.

From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 12, Slice 7 "Gyantse" to "Hallel" by Various

Related Words

• degeneration