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dwarfism

American  
[dwawr-fiz-uhm] / ˈdwɔr fɪz əm /

noun

  1. the condition of having abnormally small physical stature resulting from a medical or genetic condition, as achondroplasia or some other disease that produces disproportion or deformation of features and limbs.


dwarfism British  
/ ˈdwɔːfɪzəm /

noun

  1. the condition of being a dwarf

"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

dwarfism Scientific  
/ dwôrfĭz′əm /
  1. Abnormally short stature, usually caused by a hereditary disorder.


Etymology

Origin of dwarfism

First recorded in 1860–65; dwarf + -ism

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.

Sales of another key product, Voxzogo, which treats a form of dwarfism, are expected to have hit $912 million in 2025, according to FactSet, up from $735 million in 2024.

From Barron's • Dec. 19, 2025

Together with her husband, Ms Davis co-founded the charity Little People UK in 2012 to help individuals with dwarfism and their families.

From BBC • Apr. 14, 2025

That chance has come in the form of Hulu’s limited series premiering Wednesday that’s based on the real-life story of the Barnett family and Natalia Grace, a Ukrainian girl with a rare form of dwarfism.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 19, 2025

It listed a number of "targeted disabilities": "Hearing, vision, missing extremities, partial paralysis, complete paralysis, epilepsy, severe intellectual disability, psychiatric disability and dwarfism".

From BBC • Jan. 31, 2025

Unfortunately, growth hormone cannot at this time be inexpensively synthesized and is still far too costly to be used therapeutically except to prevent dwarfism.

From How and When to Be Your Own Doctor by Solomon, Steve