avitaminosis

[ey-vahy-tuh-muh-noh-sis]

noun

Pathology.

1. any disease caused by a lack of vitamins.

avitaminosis

/ ˌævɪˌtæmɪˈnəʊsɪs, æˌvɪtəmɪnˈəʊsɪs /

noun

1. any disease caused by a vitamin deficiency in the diet

Other Word Forms

• avitaminotic adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of avitaminosis¹

First recorded in 1910–15; a- ⁶ + vitamin + -osis

Example Sentences

“When she left the camp she suffered from the usual starvation syndrome, avitaminosis and underweight. She had developed osteoarthritis of her dorsal spine, both knee joints and both feet. She showed marked restlessness with prolonged periods of depression, coupled with severe headaches and sleeplessness.”

From The New Yorker