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body dysmorphic disorder

American  
[bod-ee dis-mawr-fik dis-awr-der] / ˈbɒd i dɪsˈmɔr fɪk dɪsˌɔr dər /

noun

  1. a mental disorder characterized by distorted body image and obsessions about perceived physical shortcomings. BDD


body dysmorphic disorder British  

noun

  1. a psychological disorder characterized by a strong feeling that one's appearance or health would be improved by the removal of a healthy body part

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of body dysmorphic disorder

First recorded in 1985–90; dys- + -morphic


Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

See Examples For:

We make similar distinctions in conditions like body dysmorphic disorder and hoarding disorder: The meaning of the preoccupation determines how we treat it.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 12, 2025

Around 5 to 10 million people in the United States have body dysmorphic disorder, which includes the face.

From Los Angeles Times ● May 22, 2023

The fashion doll that ensured generations of girls were stricken with body dysmorphic disorder before the age of 10 comes alive in “Barbie,” a comedy written by Greta Gerwig and Noah Baumbach.

From Los Angeles Times ● May 12, 2023

This suggests that abnormalities in the brain's visual system could contribute to the distortions that those with body dysmorphic disorder and anorexia experience.

From Salon ● Apr. 9, 2023

Although both eating disorders and body dysmorphic disorder can be severe and life-threatening, people with body dysmorphic disorder on average experience more impairment in daily functioning than those with eating disorders.

From Salon ● Apr. 9, 2023

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