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hypokalemia

American  
[hahy-poh-key-lee-mee-uh] / ˌhaɪ poʊ keɪˈli mi ə /

noun

Pathology.

  1. an abnormally low concentration of potassium in the blood.

Other Word Forms

  • hypokalemic adjective

Etymology

Origin of hypokalemia

1945–50; hypo- + New Latin kal ( ium ) potassium (derivative of kali, as in alkali ) + -emia

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.

Today overhydration and sudden death from hyponatremia and hypokalemia are serious problems, not dehydration.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 24, 2017

Similar to the situation with hyponatremia, hypokalemia can occur because of either an absolute reduction of potassium in the body or a relative reduction of potassium in the blood due to the redistribution of potassium.

From Textbooks • Jun. 19, 2013

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.