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

“I don’t find bulimia itself funny,” says Early.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 8, 2026

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

From Science Daily • Dec. 8, 2025

In addition, eating disorders such as bulimia nervosa and binge-eating disorder often occur alongside addictive eating.

From Salon • Oct. 13, 2025

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

From New York Times • Oct. 31, 2023

Cold increases appetite, and Plutarch says Brutus experienced intense bulimia while in the mountains, barely escaping perishing.

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

Related Words

• hunger
• starvation