dystrophy

American  

[dis-truh-fee] / ˈdɪs trə fi /

Also dystrophia

noun

1. Medicine/Medical. faulty or inadequate nutrition or development.

2. Pathology. any of a number of disorders characterized by weakening, degeneration, or abnormal development of muscle.

3. Ecology. the state of being dystrophic.

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dystrophy British  

/ dɪsˈtrɒfɪk, ˈdɪstrəfɪ, dɪˈstrəʊfɪə /

noun

1. any of various bodily disorders, characterized by wasting of tissues See also muscular dystrophy

2. ecology a condition of lake water when it is too acidic and poor in oxygen to support life, resulting from excessive humus content

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Other Word Forms

• dystrophic adjective

Etymology

Origin of dystrophy

From the New Latin word dystrophia, dating back to 1885–90. See dys-, -trophy

Example Sentences

Sarcopenia is a form of muscular dystrophy associated with aging and is a popular condition for biotech companies that harbor greater goals of reversing or slowing aging to target.

From Slate • Mar. 30, 2026

These conditions account for roughly 10% of inherited diseases, including cystic fibrosis and Duchenne muscular dystrophy.

From Science Daily • Feb. 28, 2026

Andy was born with retinal dystrophy, an inherited condition causing progressive vision loss, which eventually leads to tunnel vision and potentially blindness.

From BBC • Jan. 30, 2026

While the negative media play was partly justified, Duchenne muscular dystrophy has a poor prognosis.

From Barron's • Jan. 26, 2026

There were tiny babies with club feet, children who had paralyzed limbs from polio, adolescents dying from muscular dystrophy.

From "My Life with the Chimpanzees" by Jane Goodall