bulimia

American  

[byoo-lim-ee-uh, -lee-mee-uh, boo-, buh-] / byuˈlɪm i ə, -ˈli mi ə, bu-, bə- /

Sometimes boulimia

noun

1. Also called binge-purge syndrome.  Also called bulimia nervosa.  Psychiatry. a habitual disturbance in eating behavior mostly affecting young women of normal weight, characterized by frequent episodes of grossly excessive food intake followed by self-induced vomiting to avert weight gain.

2. Also called hyperphagia.  Pathology. abnormally voracious appetite or unnaturally constant hunger.

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bulimia British  

/ bjuːˈlɪmɪə /

noun

1. pathologically insatiable hunger, esp when caused by a brain lesion

2. Also called: bulimia nervosa.  a disorder characterized by compulsive overeating followed by vomiting: sometimes associated with anxiety about gaining weight

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bulimia Scientific  

/ bo̅o̅-lē′mē-ə /

1. An eating disorder characterized by uncontrolled rapid ingestion of large quantities of food over a short period of time, followed by self-induced vomiting, fasting, and other measures to prevent weight gain. It is most common among young women and teenage girls.

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bulimia Cultural  

1. An eating disorder that is characterized by episodic binge eating followed by feelings of guilt or depression and sometimes self-induced vomiting.

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Other Word Forms

• bulimic noun

Etymology

Origin of bulimia

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English, from New Latin, from Greek boulīmía “extreme hunger,” equivalent to bou- intensive prefix (derivative of bou-, stem of boûs ox ) + līm(ós) “hunger” + -ia -ia

Compare meaning

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

• bulimia vs. anorexia

Example Sentences

Defending Marl-Brock, Andrew Jebb said she had suffered anxiety, depression, bulimia and anorexia.

From BBC • Apr. 4, 2026

Food noise is also common in bulimia nervosa and anorexia nervosa.

From Science Daily • Dec. 8, 2025

Eating disorders, such as anorexia, bulimia, binge-eating disorder, and avoidant/restrictive food intake disorder are serious mental health conditions that affect approximately one million Canadians.

From Salon • Apr. 1, 2024

Other eating disorders — bulimia, binge eating — also may emerge.

From New York Times • Oct. 31, 2023

Many instances could be quoted, some in which extreme cases of polydipsia and bulimia developed; these can be readily attributed to the increased call for liquids and food.

From Anomalies and Curiosities of Medicine by Pyle, Walter L. (Walter Lytle)

Related Words

• hunger
• starvation