Definition

1. Noun:
   • A prolonged eating disorder characterized by a significant and persistent loss of appetite: Anorexia refers to a medical condition where an individual experiences a long-term lack of desire to eat, often leading to severe weight loss and health complications.
   • Specifically, Anorexia Nervosa: In common usage, "anorexia" is often shorthand for the psychiatric illness Anorexia Nervosa, which involves an intense fear of gaining weight and a distorted body image, leading to self-imposed starvation.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • The patient was diagnosed with severe anorexia. (This describes the general condition of appetite loss.)
  • She has been struggling with anorexia for several years. (Here, it commonly refers to the eating disorder Anorexia Nervosa.)
  • A side effect of the medication can be temporary anorexia. (This uses the term for a symptom of appetite loss.)

Advanced Usage

• "anorexia of": This construction is sometimes used metaphorically to describe a severe lack or aversion to something non-physical.
  • The critic wrote about the cultural anorexia of meaningful dialogue. (This is a figurative use implying a starvation or absence.)

Variants and Related Words

• Anorexic (Adjective): Relating to or suffering from anorexia.
  • She received treatment for anorexic tendencies.
• Anorexic (Noun): A person who has anorexia.
  • He is a recovering anorexic.
• Anorexia Nervosa (Noun Phrase): The full clinical name for the specific psychiatric eating disorder.
  • The documentary focused on the dangers of Anorexia Nervosa.

Synonyms

• Loss of appetite: The core symptom.
• Anorexia Nervosa: The specific psychiatric disorder.
• Inappetence: A more formal/medical term for lack of appetite.

Related Phrases

• "Suffering from anorexia": The standard phrase to indicate having the condition.
• "Battle with anorexia": A common phrase emphasizing the struggle against the illness.

Important Note

In contemporary English, the standalone word "anorexia" is overwhelmingly used to refer to the eating disorder Anorexia Nervosa. The more general medical sense of "loss of appetite" is often specified with additional context (e.g., "drug-induced anorexia") or is understood within a clear medical framework.

Noun

1. a prolonged disorder of eating due to loss of appetite