Definition

1. Adjective:

   • Causing loss of appetite: Describes a substance, such as a drug, that reduces or eliminates the desire to eat.
   • Suffering from anorexia nervosa; pathologically thin: Describes a person who is extremely thin due to suffering from the eating disorder anorexia nervosa.

2. Noun:

   • A person suffering from anorexia nervosa: Refers to an individual afflicted by the psychological condition characterized by an intense fear of gaining weight and a distorted body image, leading to severe food restriction.

Usage Examples

• Adjective:

  • The doctor prescribed an anorectic medication to help manage her weight. (Here, 'anorectic' describes the drug's appetite-suppressing property.)
  • Her anorectic appearance was a clear sign that she needed immediate medical intervention. (Here, 'anorectic' describes the physical state resulting from the illness.)

• Noun:

  • The clinic specializes in providing support for anorectics and their families. (Here, 'anorectics' refers to the people suffering from the disorder.)

Advanced Usage

• The term anorectic is primarily used in medical and clinical contexts. In general conversation, the phrase "person with anorexia" or "suffering from anorexia" is often preferred as it emphasizes the person first, not just the condition.

Variants and Related Words

• Anorexic (adj/n): This is a more common variant with identical meanings to 'anorectic'. It is frequently used in both medical and general contexts.
  • She was diagnosed as anorexic.
• Anorexia (n): The name of the eating disorder itself.
  • He is receiving treatment for anorexia.
• Anorexigenic (adj): A technical synonym for the adjective meaning "causing loss of appetite".

Synonyms

• Adjective (causing appetite loss): Appetite-suppressing, anorexigenic.
• Adjective/Noun (related to the illness): Emaciated, cachectic (for the physical state); anorexic.

Notes on Meaning

• The core meaning relates to a severe lack of appetite or eating, either induced (as by a drug) or pathological (as in the mental illness).
• When used as an adjective to describe a person ("an anorectic patient"), it specifically refers to the pathological thinness and condition of anorexia nervosa, not simply being slim.

Adjective

1. causing loss of appetite
   • an anorectic (or anorexigenic) drug
2. suffering from anorexia nervosa; pathologically thin

Noun

1. a person suffering from anorexia nervosa