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, ˌækrəʊmɪˈɡælɪk /

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

Etymology

Origin of acromegaly

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

Compare meaning

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

• acromegaly vs. gigantism

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

acromegaly

Crinetics Chief Executive Scott Struthers said Vertex’s global infrastructure and commercial footprint would maximize the impact of Palsonify, an oral therapy for adults with acromegaly.

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

In recent decades, DNA tests have shown Byrne carried a gene mutation that can cause tumors near the pituitary gland, which in turn causes extreme growth, called acromegaly.

From Washington Post ● Jan. 24, 2023

The literature mentioned that another hormone abnormality can cause C.V.G.: acromegaly.

From New York Times ● Dec. 29, 2021

Recently, the association of acromegaly with gigantism has been noticed, and in these instances there seems to be an acquired uniform enlargement of all the bones of the body.

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