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

The same technology that could cure muscular dystrophy could, in theory, be misused for cosmetic or selective traits.

From The Wall Street Journal

As well as raising money for a home, the family also want to their efforts to help other families in a similar situation, and raise awareness of Duchenne muscular dystrophy.

From BBC

A sudden muscle tear from a sports injury differs greatly from the slow decline in muscle strength seen in conditions such as muscular dystrophy.

From Science Daily

He also candidly relates his struggles with facioscapulohumeral dystrophy, a rare kind of neuromuscular disease that led to his use of a wheelchair.

From The Wall Street Journal

It has tumbled amid a Food and Drug Administration inquiry into Elevidys, one of the gene therapies targeting Duchenne muscular dystrophy, after two people who took the treatment died from liver failure.

From Barron's