alopecia

American  

[al-uh-pee-shee-uh, -see-uh] / ˌæl əˈpi ʃi ə, -si ə /

noun

Pathology.

1. loss of hair; baldness.

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alopecia British  

/ ˌæləˈpiːʃɪə /

noun

1. loss of hair, esp on the head; baldness

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alopecia Scientific  

/ ăl′ə-pē′shə /

1. Loss of hair; baldness.

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Other Word Forms

• alopecic
  adjective

Etymology

Origin of alopecia

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English, from Latin, from Greek alōpekía “mange in foxes,” equivalent to alōpek- (stem of alṓpēx ) “fox” + -ia -ia

Explanation

Alopecia is a condition that causes hair loss and baldness. Some types of alopecia are caused by an immune system disorder. While most men experience alopecia, or balding, at some point in their lives, it's less common in women. The term alopecia applies to all types of hair loss, including balding caused by trauma, like tight ponytails, and fungal infections. Extreme forms of alopecia can result in loss of body hair as well. The Greek root of the word is alōpekia, literally "fox mange," from alōpēx, "fox."

Example Sentences

In the yearlong Phase 2b study, nearly 40% of patients who received Nektar’s treatment, rezpegaldesleukin, showed a 50% or better improvement in their severity of alopecia score, compared to 13.6% of placebo patients.

From Barron's • Apr. 20, 2026

The announcement Monday unfortunately isn’t a win for those with androgenetic alopecia, the much more common form of hair loss known as male-pattern baldness.

From Barron's • Apr. 20, 2026

There are several forms of hair loss, the most common being androgenetic alopecia, or male- or female-pattern hair loss.

From MarketWatch • Feb. 25, 2026

Even so, the review highlights how careful scientific study of traditional remedies can open the door to new treatment strategies for common conditions such as androgenetic alopecia.

From Science Daily • Feb. 9, 2026

Congenital alopecia is a rare condition, in which the hair-loss is usually noted to be patchy, or the general hair-growth may simply be scanty.

From Essentials of Diseases of the Skin Including the Syphilodermata Arranged in the Form of Questions and Answers Prepared Especially for Students of Medicine by Stelwagon, Henry Weightman