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Synonyms

cachexia

American  
[kuh-kek-see-uh] / kəˈkɛk si ə /
Also cachexy

noun

Pathology.
  1. general ill health with emaciation, usually occurring in association with cancer or a chronic infectious disease.


cachexia British  
/ kəˈkɛksɪə, kəˈkɛksɪ, kəˈkɛktɪk /

noun

  1. a generally weakened condition of body or mind resulting from any debilitating chronic disease

"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

cachexia Scientific  
/ kə-kĕksē-ə /
  1. Severe weight loss, anorexia, and general debility that occur as a result of chronic disease. Cachetic patients exhibit signs of malnutrition, including muscle wasting.


Other Word Forms

Etymology

Origin of cachexia

1535–45; < Late Latin < Greek, equivalent to kak ( ós ) bad + héx ( is ) condition ( hek-, variant stem of échein to have + -sis -sis ) + -ia -ia

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:

"This discovery could have implications for cancer patients who experience cachexia, or muscle wasting due to the disease and its treatments."

From Science Daily May 21, 2024

His fellow cachexia researchers have been eagerly sharing the study on social media, he says, “and it seems like they’re really excited to follow up on it.”

From Science Magazine Apr. 2, 2024

Several years earlier, other international forensics experts had already rejected the official cause of death as cachexia, or weakness and wasting of the body due to chronic illness — in his case, cancer.

From Seattle Times Feb. 20, 2024

He had been suffering from prostate cancer and his death certificate said he died of "cancerous cachexia" - a wasting away caused by the disease.

From BBC Sep. 23, 2023

Serious cachexia, such as that caused by carcinoma or other growths, gives low blood pressure.

From Disturbances of the Heart by Osborne, Oliver T. (Oliver Thomas)

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