acromegaly

American  

[ak-ruh-meg-uh-lee] / ˌæk rəˈmɛg ə li /

noun

Pathology.

1. a chronic disease characterized by enlargement of the bones of the head, the soft parts of the feet and hands, and sometimes other structures, due to excessive secretion of growth hormone by the pituitary gland.

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acromegaly British  

/ ˌækrəʊˈmɛɡəlɪ /

noun

1. a chronic disease characterized by enlargement of the bones of the head, hands, and feet, and swelling and enlargement of soft tissue, esp the tongue. It is caused by excessive secretion of growth hormone by the pituitary gland Compare gigantism

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Other Word Forms

• pseudoacromegaly
  noun
• acromegalic
  adjective

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Etymology

Origin of acromegaly

1885–90; < French acromégalie < New Latin acromegalia. See acro-, -megaly

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Compare meaning

How does acromegaly compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

• acromegaly vs. gigantism

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

acromegaly

Crinetics primarily develops products to treat endocrine disorders, including acromegaly, a rare hormonal disorder caused by the overproduction of growth hormone, and congenital adrenal hyperplasia, a condition that affects the adrenal glands.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 6, 2026

The disease the AI targets is acromegaly, an uncommon condition that usually appears in middle age.

From Science Daily ● Mar. 4, 2026

Today, about several hundred people with acromegaly live in County Tyrone.

From Washington Post ● Jan. 24, 2023

Her growth-hormone levels were nearly five times what they should be: She had acromegaly.

From New York Times ● Jun. 15, 2022

Mentally he was dull; the bones of the face and extremities showed the hypertrophies characteristic of acromegaly, the soft parts not being involved.

From Anomalies and Curiosities of Medicine by Walter L. (Walter Lytle) Pyle

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