thalassemia

American

[thal-uh-see-mee-uh] / ˌθæl əˈsi mi ə /

noun

Pathology.

a hereditary form of anemia, occurring chiefly in people of Mediterranean origin, marked by the abnormal synthesis of hemoglobin and a consequent shortened life span of red blood cells.

thalassemia Scientific

/ thăl′ə-sē′mē-ə /

Any of a group of inherited forms of anemia occurring chiefly among people of Mediterranean descent, caused by faulty synthesis of part of the hemoglobin molecule

Etymology

Origin of thalassemia

1932; < Greek thálass ( a ) sea (alluding to the Mediterranean Sea; the anemia was first reported among children in Mediterranean countries) + -emia

Compare meaning

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

thalassemia vs. anemia

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.

Thalassemia is a genetic blood disorder that requires regular transfusions to manage severe anaemia and sustain life.

From BBC • Dec. 19, 2025

Thalassemia is a rare genetic disease caused by a defect in either the alpha or the beta subunit of Hb.

From Textbooks • Jun. 9, 2022

Thalassemia is an inherited condition typically occurring in individuals from the Middle East, the Mediterranean, African, and Southeast Asia, in which maturation of the RBCs does not proceed normally.

From Textbooks • Jun. 19, 2013

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