dysmorphia

American  

[dis-mawr-fee-uh] / dɪsˈmɔr fi ə /

noun

1. dysmorphism.

2. body dysmorphic disorder.

3. muscle dysmorphia.

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Other Word Forms

• dysmorphic adjective

Etymology

Origin of dysmorphia

First recorded in 1845–50; from Greek dysmorphía “misshapenness, ugliness,” equivalent to prefix dys- “hard, bad, unlucky” + morphḗ “form, shape” + -ía abstract noun suffix; see origin at dys- ( def. ), -morph ( def. ), -ia ( def. )

Example Sentences

"It's time for me to speak up about my body dysmorphia to give other people the courage"

From BBC • Apr. 15, 2026

“It kind of affected me, but I already had body dysmorphia symptoms long before she started showing symptoms of an eating disorder,” Kaley said.

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 27, 2026

She charges the apps left her with anxiety, depression and body dysmorphia — a pathologically distorted self-perception, most prevalent in girls, that a growing body of research has linked to social platforms.

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 27, 2026

The plaintiff’s former therapist, Victoria Burke, testified that she diagnosed Kaley with body dysmorphia and social phobia, a type of anxiety disorder, in her early teens.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 26, 2026

Whaite explained he has bulimia, an eating disorder, and body dysmorphia, where a person perceives defects in their own body which are often less noticeable to others.

From BBC • Nov. 17, 2025