bulimia

American  

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

Sometimes boulimia

noun

1. Also called binge-purge syndrome, 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

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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

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Compare meaning

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

• bulimia vs. anorexia

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

bulimia

Medication is normally prescribed alongside therapy for bulimia and binge-eating disorder, but even that has shortcomings.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 8, 2026

Anorexia and bulimia were in nearly every tabloid headline, splashed across the supermarket checkout aisles.

From Salon ● Jun. 22, 2026

“He’s like, ‘I’m going to play a woman who’s struggling with bulimia.’

From Los Angeles Times ● Apr. 8, 2026

She had no medical consultation, no ID checks, and no questions about her history of anorexia and bulimia.

From BBC ● Feb. 22, 2026

At times he would void worms as large as the shank of a clay-pipe, and then for a short period the bulimia would disappear.

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

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Related Words

• hunger
• starvation

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